Analysis · Speech on a motion · beta

Mario Simard

Bloc Québécois on Business of Supply 2026-10-06

1310 words · 87 sentences · 106 clauses

Statement grade

A–

Average 89 / 100

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

Thanks 12%Claims 53%Positioning 17%Anecdote 1%Aside 1%Procedure 4%Reasoning 12%

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

Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 22 wordslike my colleague from Mirabel, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the new Premier of Quebec, Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon.¹Thanks Claims · 29 wordsI will point out that the Quebec National Assembly now has a majority of separatist members, if we add together the members of the Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire.² Positioning · 9 wordsThat may be a good thing for the future.Positioning Thanks · 40 wordsI would also like to congratulate the candidates elected in my region, in Saguenay. I am thinking in particular of Marie‑Karlynn, with whom I loved working, and my young friend Émile Simard, who has the same name as my son.Thanks Anecdote · 16 wordsA few people sent congratulations to my son yesterday after Émile Simard was elected in Dubuc.³Anecdote Thanks · 31 wordsI am also thinking of my dear friend Jimmy Bouchard in Jonquière. I am really looking forward to working with him. I would also like to recognize the candidates who lost.Thanks Aside · 5 wordsPeople make friends in politics.Aside Thanks · 59 wordsI am particularly thinking of Yannick Gagnon of Coalition Avenir Québec, who lost the election in Jonquière.⁴ He is still a dedicated member of the community who cares deeply about making life better for the people in the Saguenay region. My hat goes off to him, and I hope that his future career will be everything he hopes for.Thanks Procedure · 6 wordsLet us return to the motion.Procedure Positioning · 34 wordsAs I often say, it is Groundhog Day: The Conservatives’ love affair with the oil and gas sector continues to repeat itself. Everything is an excuse to advance the interests of the oil companies.Positioning Procedure · 5 wordsThere is a contradiction here: ProcedureClaims · 27 wordsThe Conservatives are using their opposition day to argue that we should provide more support to the oil and gas sector so that it can export more. Positioning · 23 wordsEven with the rising cost of living, the Conservatives still see this as an opportunity to advance the interests of the oil companies.Positioning Claims · 16 wordsThe crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is driving up the price of diesel right now, Positioning · 25 wordsand the Conservatives see this as yet another opportunity to advance the interests of the oil companies. Perhaps they have managed to inspire the Liberals.Positioning Procedure · 7 wordsAs I will explain in my speech, ProcedurePositioning · 17 wordsso far, the world champions at advancing the interests of the oil companies have been the Liberals.Positioning Procedure · 7 wordsLet us return briefly to the motion.Procedure Reasoning · 28 wordsPersonally, as my colleague from Mirabel demonstrated very clearly, I do not believe that eliminating these taxes would help people who are being hit by higher diesel prices. Claims · 52 wordsInstead, as we know, it is the oil companies that will once again benefit from the handouts bestowed upon them by the government and the Conservative opposition.Unearned certainty A number of experts have said so. I am thinking in particular of Luc Godbout, as well as Normand Mousseau from the Trottier Energy Institute. Positioning · 30 wordsAt the end of the day, when we take a closer look, who are the big winners when a tax on gasoline or diesel is eliminated? It is big oil.Positioning Reasoning · 33 wordsTo me, it does not make sense to deprive the government of revenue in order to support the profiteers in the oil and gas sector. I do not see the logic in that. Claims · 31 wordsAs we know, the needs are immense.Unearned certainty Think about education and the health transfers, which are often lacking. A balanced federal budget is far from a certainty. The deficit is skyrocketing. Reasoning · 38 wordsI do not think we need to make matters worse by eliminating the diesel tax. Instead, as my colleague from Mirabel said very clearly, we need to find targeted measures to support the people who are hardest hit. Procedure · 4 wordsLet us be clear: ProcedureReasoning · 20 wordsreducing government revenue so that everyone has to pay more, while increasing oil companies’ profits, is a very bad idea. Procedure · 8 wordsThat said, I want to address another issue.Procedure Positioning · 18 wordsLet us talk about the federal government’s lavish generosity and shamelessness when it comes to oil and gas.Positioning Procedure · 16 wordsI am going to share some staggering figures. Rest assured, they will evoke some strong feelings.Procedure Claims · 66 wordsBetween 2021 and 2024, oil and gas companies raked in $131 billion in profits.⁵ Of that $131 billion in profits, $80 billion was paid out as dividends to oil and gas companies.⁶ I would like to point out that 80% of Canada’s oil and gas companies are owned by foreign interests.⁷ Of that 80%, approximately 60% are American.⁸ We are talking about $80 billion in dividends. Reasoning · 15 wordsThat means that every year, $12.5 billion leaves Canada and goes to the United States.⁹ Claims · 57 wordsWe are in a trade war. That is $12.5 billion flowing directly from Canada to the United States, based on the period from 2021 to 2024. In July of this year, Cenovus announced that it would post record profits for its second quarter.¹⁰ It posted a profit of $2.8 billion, four times as much as in 2025.¹¹ Positioning · 6 wordsWhat are we being told today?Positioning Claims · 36 wordsThe Conservatives are once again proposing handouts for the oil and gas sector. Meanwhile, the government, with the support of the Conservatives, wants to make Canada an energy superpower. The Prime Minister has said so repeatedly. Reasoning · 16 wordsWhen we look at the situation, we have to ask where Canada’s energy exports are going. Claims · 73 wordsBetween 70% and 80% of our energy exports go directly to the United States.¹² We are in a tariff war with the U.S. The U.S. is our main customer when it comes to energy exports. One of the only products not subject to tariffs is oil.¹³ If we take a closer look at the export figures, we will see that, in 2025, 91% of our oil exports went directly to the United States.¹⁴ Reasoning · 6 wordsWhat is the federal government’s strategy? Claims · 24 wordsIts strategy is to say that we need to build oil and gas infrastructure so our economy can resist pressure from the United States. Positioning · 7 wordsWho benefits from building this infrastructure, though?Positioning Procedure · 5 wordsThis is the outrageous part.Procedure Claims · 50 wordsNew infrastructure benefits the greedy oil and gas companies that do not want to pay for it, and it also directly benefits Americans. The government is using public money to pay for oil and gas infrastructure for the profiteers in the energy sector. Ultimately, that benefits the Americans collecting dividends. Positioning · 9 wordsI think that is as absurd as it gets.Positioning Claims · 53 wordsThe economic sectors subject to tariffs are receiving little to no support from the government. We paid $34 billion for the Trans Mountain pipeline.¹⁵ Each and every one of us paid for it. The Leader of the Opposition had the decency to point out that oil and gas companies were corporate welfare recipients. Aside · 5 wordsI rarely agree with him, AsideReasoning · 4 wordsbut he was right. Claims · 6 wordsThese companies are making record profits, Positioning · 10 wordsyet they do not want to pay for their infrastructure.Positioning Claims · 105 wordsWhat is more, the government is adding insult to injury by saying that it will fund another project, the Pacific link pipeline, which will cost about $43 billion.¹⁶ That is $34 billion spent on the Trans Mountain expansion project and $43 billion spent on the Pacific link pipeline. It is also important to note that, last year, the fossil fuel industry received $10 billion in subsidies.¹⁷ That brings the total up to about $85 billion. I am not talking about the construction of Trans Mountain; I am talking about the financial support provided by the federal government. This support amounts to $85 billion since 2020.¹⁸ Positioning · 31 wordsIt is clear that the federal government has made its bed. Its main goal in the tariff crisis is to support the only sector that is not subject to tariffs: oil.Positioning Claims · 67 wordsIt is also the only sector that primarily serves Americans, since they are the majority owners of the oil and gas companies. Canada is investing billions of dollars in this industry. What the Conservatives are asking us to do today is to be even more generous and eliminate a tax. Once again, this would mean that taxpayers would end up footing the bill for these greedy companies. Positioning · 3 wordsIt is outrageous.Positioning

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 59

41 of 43 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 “like my colleague from Mirabel, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the new Premier of Quebec, Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “That may be a good thing for the future.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I would also like to congratulate the candidates elected in my region, in Saguenay.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I am thinking in particular of Marie‑Karlynn, with whom I loved working,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and my young friend Émile Simard, who has the same name as my son.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “A few people sent congratulations to my son yesterday after Émile Simard was elected in Dubuc.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I am also thinking of my dear friend Jimmy Bouchard in Jonquière.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I am really looking forward to working with him.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I would also like to recognize the candidates who lost.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “People make friends in politics.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I am particularly thinking of Yannick Gagnon of Coalition Avenir Québec, who lost the election in Jonquière.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “He is still a dedicated member of the community who cares deeply about making life better for the people in the Saguenay region.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “My hat goes off to him,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and I hope that his future career will be everything he hopes for.”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 “Let us return to the motion.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “As I often say, it is Groundhog Day:”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 “The Conservatives’ love affair with the oil and gas sector continues to repeat itself.”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 “Everything is an excuse to advance the interests of the oil companies.”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 a contradiction here:”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Even with the rising cost of living, the Conservatives still see this as an opportunity to advance the interests of the oil companies.”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 “and the Conservatives see this as yet another opportunity to advance the interests of the oil companies.”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 “Perhaps they have managed to inspire the Liberals.”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 “As I will explain in my speech,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “so far, the world champions at advancing the interests of the oil companies have been the Liberals.”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 “Let us return briefly to the motion.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “At the end of the day, when we take a closer look, who are the big winners when a tax on gasoline or diesel is eliminated?”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 big oil.”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 “Let us be clear:”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “That said, I want to address another issue.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Let us talk about the federal government’s lavish generosity and shamelessness when it comes to oil and gas.”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 “I am going to share some staggering figures.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Rest assured, they will evoke some strong feelings.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “What are we being told today?”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 “Who benefits from building this infrastructure, though?”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 “This is the outrageous part.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “I think that is as absurd as it gets.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “I rarely agree with him,”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “yet they do not want to pay for their infrastructure.”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 clear that the federal government has made its bed.”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 “Its main goal in the tariff crisis is to support the only sector that is not subject to tariffs: oil.”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 outrageous.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 43 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 motion under debate.

Nothing lost points.

Respect · 100

0 of 43 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 · 96

2 of 43 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 “as we know”The phrase asserts who benefits as common knowledge instead of offering a source.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “As we know”The phrase presents the scale of the needs as settled common knowledge without a source.

Claims · 18

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“like my colleague from Mirabel, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the new Premier of Quebec, Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon.”Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is the new Premier of Quebec following the 2026 Quebec election.search
2“if we add together the members of the Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire.”The Quebec National Assembly now has a majority of separatist members, counting the Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire together.search
3“Émile Simard was elected in Dubuc”Émile Simard was elected as a member of the Quebec National Assembly for the riding of Dubuc in the 2026 Quebec election.search
4“Yannick Gagnon of Coalition Avenir Québec, who lost the election in Jonquière”Yannick Gagnon of the Coalition Avenir Québec lost his Jonquière seat in the 2026 Quebec election.search
5“Between 2021 and 2024, oil and gas companies raked in $131 billion in profits”Oil and gas companies earned $131 billion in profits between 2021 and 2024.search
6“$80 billion was paid out as dividends”Of the $131 billion in oil and gas company profits between 2021 and 2024, $80 billion was paid out as dividends.search
7“80% of Canada’s oil and gas companies are owned by foreign interests”80% of Canada’s oil and gas companies are owned by foreign interests.search
8“approximately 60% are American”Approximately 60% of the foreign-owned share of Canada’s oil and gas companies is American.search
9“$12.5 billion leaves Canada and goes to the United States”About $12.5 billion a year in oil and gas dividends flows from Canada to the United States, based on the 2021-2024 period.search
10“In July of this year, Cenovus announced that it would post record profits for its second quarter”In July 2026, Cenovus announced it would post record profits for its second quarter.search
11“a profit of $2.8 billion, four times as much as in 2025”Cenovus posted a profit of $2.8 billion, four times as much as in 2025.search
12“Between 70% and 80% of our energy exports go directly to the United States”Between 70% and 80% of Canada’s energy exports go directly to the United States.search
13“One of the only products not subject to tariffs is oil”Oil is one of the only products not subject to tariffs in the current Canada-US trade dispute.search
14“in 2025, 91% of our oil exports went directly to the United States”In 2025, 91% of Canada’s oil exports went directly to the United States.search
15“We paid $34 billion for the Trans Mountain pipeline”The federal government paid $34 billion for the Trans Mountain pipeline.search
16“which will cost about $43 billion.”The Pacific link pipeline is expected to cost about $43 billion.search
17“last year, the fossil fuel industry received $10 billion in subsidies”The fossil fuel industry received $10 billion in subsidies from the federal government last year.search
18“This support amounts to $85 billion since 2020”Federal financial support for the oil and gas sector amounts to about $85 billion since 2020.search

Analysed on 2026-10-19