Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Ryan Turnbull

Liberal on Adjournment Proceedings 2026-09-23

429 words · 18 sentences · 25 clauses

Replying to Gord Johns (NDP)

“Madam Speaker, here we are just three days into the fall sitting of the House, and I am once again having to drag the government back into the House for an adjournment debate to protect our universal public health care system. Back in April, I asked a question during question period referencing the fact that the Minister of Health stood here and called herself “the guardian of the Canada Health Act”. After months of delay, she has failed to act while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expands American-style pay-for-access diagnostics and two-tiered health care. Canadians cannot afford more stalling while our universal health care system is being undermined. Since that time, on September 1, Alberta’s Bill 11 has landed on our doorstep. The Canadian Health Coalition, which I want to thank for its tremendous work advocating for our public health care system, commissioned a legal opinion stating that Bill 11 is the most serious threat against public universal health care we have seen since the Canada Health Act was passed in 1984. The first parts of Premier Smith’s draconian Bill 11 in Alberta just recently came into force at the beginning of this month, with the rest being enacted in the coming months. Bill 11 opens the door to the privatization of public health care in Canada. As Friends of Medicare has so succinctly said, we must slam it shut. Shockingly, despite my repeated attempts at ringing the alarm bells around Alberta’s Bill 11 here in the House, through the media and in many meetings with the Minister of Health asking that she enforce the Canada Health Act to protect our public health care system from a threat that no one voted for, it was not until the eve of the recent coming into force of the bill that the minister finally said that she would be considering the ramifications of the bill. If the minister is truly the guardian, why is she taking so long to enforce the law and stop the erosion of our public health care system? This is an issue of national unity. What can happen in Alberta does not necessarily stay in Alberta. Canadians are united in their opposition to the insults and damage flowing from the American President towards Canada. The Prime Minister has been travelling abroad and hosting summits with billionaires here at home, so what happened to “elbows up” and “Canada strong”? Protecting our health care is Canada strong. That is nation building, but eroding our public health care system through inaction and failure to enforce the Canada Health Act is not Canada strong. It weakens Canada. It is not Canadian. It erodes the security of the very thing Canadians most closely identify with as part of being Canadian. Canadians do not want American-style health care, the queue-jumping for people with money or the so-called dual practice, which is now under way in Alberta. I will ask the government this again. Why has it not enforced the Canada Health Act to prevent the erosion of our public health care system, something that Canadians identify with in our shared values as a healthy and inclusive society? People should use their health care card, not their credit card, to get the help and services they need when it comes to their health.”

Statement grade

B–

Average 70 / 100

A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.

Thanks 8%Procedure 3%Aside 5%Positioning 11%Claims 62%Reasoning 7%Promise 4%

This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.

Madam Speaker, Thanks · 35 wordsI want to thank the member for Courtenay—Alberni for the collaborative working relationship that we have had for quite a number of years. He is a great guy and a great representative for his community.Thanks Procedure · 4 wordsI understand his question, ProcedureAside · 20 wordsand just for the record, I was not dragged here. I volunteered to stay to answer his question this evening.Aside Positioning · 49 wordsOur public health care system is a point of pride, that is for sure, for all Canadians, including all Albertans. Our government will always work to defend our health care system because we understand that access to care should be based on someone’s need, not someone’s ability to pay.PositioningVague promise Claims · 13 wordsFurthermore, we recognize that our universal health care system underpins our economic strength. Reasoning · 8 wordsTo build Canada strong, we need healthy Canadians. Claims · 43 wordsHowever, at the same time, all of us can see that our health care system is under strain. While provinces and territories are responsible for delivering health care, we all know that the federal government plays a key role in supporting the provinces.Unearned certainty Reasoning · 22 wordsAll of us need to work together to make sure that Canadians have the strong health care system they need and deserve. Claims · 54 wordsWe have seen how provinces and territories are responding to these challenges with new ideas and determination. They are finding new ways to bring care closer to Canadians, by expanding the roles of nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives; embracing virtual care; and even training the health care professionals we will need for the future.Partly on point Procedure · 9 wordsThere is no doubt that this is important work, ProcedureClaims · 156 wordswhich is why we have taken a collaborative approach with all provinces and territories, including Alberta, that respects their jurisdiction to explore innovative ways to improve access and care while strengthening the public universal health care system that we all take pride in.Partly on point That does not mean that provinces and territories have free reign to ignore the principles of the Canada Health Act. As the Minister of Health has said repeatedly, she has been in close contact with Minister LaGrange, ¹as she has been with all her provincial and territorial counterparts, to talk about how we can best support Alberta in strengthening our health care system and not eroding it. Likewise, as the minister has noted, Health Canada officials are working closely with Government of Alberta officials to ensure that the principles of the Canada Health Act are fully respected.² A collaborative approach between our government and the Government of Alberta has always produced stronger results, Promise · 16 wordsand we will continue to work in that direction to benefit all Albertans and all Canadians.Vague promise

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 57

8 of 23 deductions are Signal

Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.

Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I want to thank the member for Courtenay—Alberni for the collaborative working relationship that we have had for quite a number of years.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “He is a great guy and a great representative for his community.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I understand his question,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “and just for the record, I was not dragged here.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “I volunteered to stay to answer his question this evening.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Our public health care system is a point of pride, that is for sure, for all Canadians, including all Albertans.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Our government will always work to defend our health care system because we understand that access to care should be based on someone’s need, not someone’s ability to pay.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “There is no doubt that this is important work,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 54

12 of 23 deductions are Relevance

Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the question on notice, as the member's speech raises it.

Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “Our public health care system is a point of pride, that is for sure, for all Canadians, including all Albertans.”About pride in public health care generally, not the enforcement of the Canada Health Act against Bill 11.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “Our government will always work to defend our health care system because we understand that access to care should be based on someone’s need, not someone’s ability to pay.”A general commitment to defending health care, not the action asked about on Alberta’s bill.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “Furthermore, we recognize that our universal health care system underpins our economic strength.”About the economic importance of health care, not the enforcement question raised.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “To build Canada strong, we need healthy Canadians.”A general statement linking health and national strength, not the Canada Health Act enforcement asked about.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “However, at the same time, all of us can see that our health care system is under strain.”About the health system being under strain generally, not the Alberta bill or enforcement.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “While provinces and territories are responsible for delivering health care, we all know that the federal government plays a key role in supporting the provinces.”About federal-provincial roles in health care, not whether the act is being enforced against Bill 11.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “All of us need to work together to make sure that Canadians have the strong health care system they need and deserve.”A general call for cooperation, not the enforcement action asked about.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “We have seen how provinces and territories are responding to these challenges with new ideas and determination.”About provincial innovations in delivering care, not the enforcement question raised.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “They are finding new ways to bring care closer to Canadians, by expanding the roles of nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives;”About provinces expanding practitioner roles, not the Alberta bill or the Canada Health Act.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “embracing virtual care;”About virtual care as an innovation, not the enforcement question raised.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “and even training the health care professionals we will need for the future.”About training health professionals, not the Alberta bill or enforcement of the act.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “which is why we have taken a collaborative approach with all provinces and territories, including Alberta, that respects their jurisdiction to explore innovative ways to improve access and care while strengthening the public universal health care system that we all take pride in.”Describes a collaborative, jurisdiction-respecting approach to Alberta but not why the act has not been enforced against Bill 11.

Respect · 100

0 of 23 deductions are Respect

Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.

Nothing lost points.

Clarity · 68

3 of 23 deductions are Clarity

Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “will always work to defend our health care system”A commitment with no measure, date or success condition named.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “we all know”The formula asserts agreement in place of a source for the claim.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we will continue to work in that direction”A commitment with no action, measure or success condition specified.

Claims · 2

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

1“she has been in close contact with Minister LaGrange”The Minister of Health has said repeatedly that she has been in close contact with Alberta minister LaGrange.search
2“Health Canada officials are working closely with Government of Alberta officials”Health Canada officials are working closely with Government of Alberta officials to ensure the Canada Health Act principles are respected.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20