Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Don Davies

NDP on Building Canada Strong Act 2026-10-07

232 words · 11 sentences · 15 clauses

Replying to Dan Albas (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, I know this is an issue that the member cares deeply about, and so should we all, because we are talking about workers’ rights. Last I checked, workers’ rights fall under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in section 2(d). Another section that is particularly relevant to this conversation tonight is section 4.2 of the Department of Justice Act, which says that the Minister of Justice is legally required to table a charter statement for every single government bill. Liberals like to say they are the party of the charter. So many Liberal members have said they are all about workers’ rights, yet the House and the special legislative committee that is going to be set up to examine Bill C-39 have not yet seen this. Does the member believe that the government has the obligation to give the people that charter statement before we start deliberating this at committee, yes or no?”

Statement grade

C–

57 / 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.

Claims 76%Procedure 2%Positioning 22%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 64 wordsthe answer is clearly no. In fact, I believe the real reason the legislation has been brought forth here in the House is that 12 hours after the flight attendants of Air Canada walked off the job, the Liberal government ordered them back to work.¹ It was 12 hours after the rail workers went on strike that the government ordered them back to work.²Partly on point Procedure · 5 wordsDo members know what happened?Procedure Claims · 103 wordsThe Teamsters and CUPE filed court challenges saying that the government violated their charter rights.³ This case is before the courts right now, ⁴and in the government, the Liberals know they are going to lose, because the right to strike and the right to collectively bargain are respected charter rights recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada.⁵ The Liberals have attempted to charter-proof themselves by bringing in the legislation, but it will not work.Partly on point By the way, this gives me a chance to point out that this is the first Liberal government in over 100 years not to have a minister of labour.⁶ Positioning · 27 wordsIf we want a signal of what the government thinks about workers, it is that it does not even think they deserve their own minister of labour.Positioning Claims · 9 wordsThe Liberals have a Minister of Jobs and Families.⁷ Positioning · 24 wordsNow, that is a big slap in the face to organized labour in this country, and I can tell members that it is noticed.PositioningOff point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 66

4 of 17 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.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Do members know what happened?”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 “If we want a signal of what the government thinks about workers, it is that it does not even think they deserve their own minister of 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 “Now, that is a big slap in the face to organized labour 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 “and I can tell members that it is noticed.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 27

13 of 17 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 “In fact, I believe the real reason the legislation has been brought forth here in the House is that 12 hours after the flight attendants of Air Canada walked off the job, the Liberal government ordered them back to work.”About the government’s past back-to-work order for Air Canada, not the charter statement 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 “It was 12 hours after the rail workers went on strike that the government ordered them back to work.”About the government’s past order against rail workers, not the charter statement 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 “The Teamsters and CUPE filed court challenges saying that the government violated their charter rights.”About court challenges to past back-to-work orders, not the charter statement 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 “This case is before the courts right now,”About the status of those court cases, not the charter statement 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 “and in the government, the Liberals know they are going to lose,”About the government’s expected loss in those cases, not the charter statement 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 “because the right to strike and the right to collectively bargain are respected charter rights recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada.”Background on charter rights from court rulings, not the charter statement 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 “The Liberals have attempted to charter-proof themselves by bringing in the legislation,”About the bill’s alleged purpose regarding charter rights, not whether the statement must be tabled.
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 “but it will not work.”About whether that alleged purpose will succeed, not the charter statement 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 “By the way, this gives me a chance to point out that this is the first Liberal government in over 100 years not to have a minister of labour.”About the government’s cabinet composition regarding a labour minister, not the charter statement 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 “If we want a signal of what the government thinks about workers, it is that it does not even think they deserve their own minister of labour.”About the government’s treatment of workers via its ministry structure, not the charter statement 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 “The Liberals have a Minister of Jobs and Families.”About which minister holds the labour portfolio, not the charter statement 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 “Now, that is a big slap in the face to organized labour in this country,”About organized labour’s reaction to the ministry change, not the charter statement 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 “and I can tell members that it is noticed.”About that reaction being noticed, not the charter statement asked about.

Respect · 100

0 of 17 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 · 100

0 of 17 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.

Nothing lost points.

Claims · 7

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“12 hours after the flight attendants of Air Canada walked off the job, the Liberal government ordered them back to work”The federal government ordered Air Canada flight attendants back to work 12 hours after they went on strike.search
2“12 hours after the rail workers went on strike that the government ordered them back to work”The federal government ordered the rail workers back to work 12 hours after they went on strike.search
3“The Teamsters and CUPE filed court challenges saying that the government violated their charter rights”The Teamsters and CUPE filed court challenges alleging the government violated their Charter rights over the back-to-work orders.search
4“This case is before the courts right now”The legal challenges over the back-to-work orders are still before the courts.search
5“the right to strike and the right to collectively bargain are respected charter rights recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada”The Supreme Court of Canada has recognized the rights to strike and to collectively bargain as Charter-protected rights.search
6“the first Liberal government in over 100 years not to have a minister of labour”The current Liberal government is the first Liberal government in over 100 years without a minister of labour.search
7“The Liberals have a Minister of Jobs and Families”The current Liberal cabinet includes a Minister of Jobs and Families.search

Analysed on 2026-10-19