Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Melissa Lantsman

Conservative on Building Canada Strong Act 2026-09-24

96 words · 6 sentences · 6 clauses

Replying to Gord Johns (NDP)

“Madam Speaker, over the summer, the government consulted with labour, unions and different organizations. Federal unions have been calling for section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to be removed after governments, especially the Liberal government, have used it to order workers back to work and undermine their collective bargaining rights. The government is proposing new language, as we know, around section 107, and calling these changes “guardrails”. However, unions are telling us these changes could actually weaken workers’ bargaining power. Organized labour still has no answer on who brought these ideas forward and who asked for these changes. The Conservatives are saying they are friends with labour. Do they support these changes or do they know who asked for these changes?”

Statement grade

35 / 100, held down by Relevance

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

Positioning 84%Claims 16%

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

Madam Speaker, Positioning · 21 wordsit is not about whether we are friends with labour.Partly on point It is about whether labour supports a party that supports it.Positioning Claims · 15 wordsIn the last election, it certainly came over in droves and the member knows it.¹Unearned certainty Positioning · 60 wordsI wish the member would speak this vigorously against the inflation that is driving down the paycheques of every single worker in this country. I wish he would stand up for labour when it comes to the fact that its buying power is not nearly as much because of the government’s spending. I wish he would stand up for labour.PositioningOff point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.
Little substanceMuch of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 15

5 of 12 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “it is not about whether we are friends with labour.”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 “It is about whether labour supports a party that supports it.”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 “I wish the member would speak this vigorously against the inflation that is driving down the paycheques of every single worker in this country.”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 “I wish he would stand up for labour when it comes to the fact that its buying power is not nearly as much because of the government’s spending.”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 “I wish he would stand up for labour.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 5

6 of 12 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 point put to the member, and the bill under debate.

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 “it is not about whether we are friends with labour.”It pushes back on the question’s framing about being friends with labour without addressing what was asked about the changes.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “It is about whether labour supports a party that supports it.”About which party labour supports at election time, not the changes to section 107 or who asked for them.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “In the last election, it certainly came over in droves and the member knows it.”About the last election’s voting results, not the question’s subject.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “I wish the member would speak this vigorously against the inflation that is driving down the paycheques of every single worker in this country.”A call for the member to speak against inflation, a different subject from the changes asked about.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “I wish he would stand up for labour when it comes to the fact that its buying power is not nearly as much because of the government’s spending.”About government spending and workers’ buying power, not the section 107 changes or their origin.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “I wish he would stand up for labour.”A general call for the member to stand up for labour, giving no answer on the changes.

Respect · 100

0 of 12 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 · 80

1 of 12 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.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “the member knows it”It asserts agreement from the listener’s side in place of any evidence for the claim about labour’s voting.

Claims · 1

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“In the last election, it certainly came over in droves”In the last federal election, organized labour supported the Conservative Party in large numbers.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20