Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Wade Grant

Liberal on Adjournment Proceedings 2026-10-07

404 words · 20 sentences · 25 clauses

Replying to Elizabeth May (Green)

“Mr. Speaker, I am returning to a question I asked on May 1. It relates to the science around the climate crisis. I am very concerned that we do not actually talk about the position we are in as humanity on a planet that is undergoing dramatic, irreversible changes due to our own conduct. Too often in this place, it is a throwaway line, or someone stands up and says, “Well, we could talk about climate change years ago, but that’s over now.” My question at the time was to say, “alarm bells are ringing of imminent global collapse of key climate systems, but the alarms are being drowned out by the cheering of Liberals and Conservatives for new and more climate-killing projects.” Key experts say that there is a 50-50 chance of the collapse of the massive and complex Atlantic Ocean current system with devastating catastrophic results. I asked: “When will the government stop shutting off the alarms and try to act before we pass the tipping points?” At that moment, I was referring to the publication of a recent scientific report at the time, back last spring. For any insomniacs watching CPAC, it could not have a worse name than the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Its acronym is, appropriately perhaps, AMOC, because we might be running amok. It is the the major current, which people will know intuitively or from their science classes as the Gulf Stream. The ocean currents are vast conveyor belts throughout the oceans of the world. All the sea water anywhere around the world will eventually make the full circuit, which takes many years, all around the planet. However, what is happening is that with the shifting of temperatures with the overheating of the oceans in some parts of the ocean and the cooler water entering the system as we have ice melting in the Arctic, the cooler water depresses the warmer water so that the Gulf Stream is being depressed and slowed down. I have been working on issues around climate science since I was a senior policy adviser to the federal minister of environment back in 1986, and so I had a lot of brilliant climate scientists explain things like this to me. I am not as good at explaining them after midnight, but it is critical that Canadians, particularly the cabinet of this country, understand the science, because we are running out of time. There are tipping points, such as if we lose the Gulf Stream, if it stalls, if it stops, and it is very clearly slowing down. We used to think, back in 1986, that this was very unlikely to ever happen, but the most recent reports to which I was referring in this question said we are now at a 50-50 chance that it could happen by mid-century. If that happens, the effects are catastrophic and enormous. This is directly related to the fiction that net zero by 2050 has anything to do with our Paris commitments. That is an invention for public relations purposes to avoid the fact that in order to avoid very significant tipping points that are irreversible, creating unstoppable changes, our emissions need to come down sharply. Last advice from the IPCC was, at the latest, before 2025. Here we are, it is 2026, and we are ignoring the alarm bells.”

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.

Greeting 3%Claims 64%Positioning 3%Promise 22%Procedure 2%Reasoning 6%

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

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 11 wordsI am very happy to rise today during this early show.Greeting Claims · 57 wordsWe are taking action as we speak.Vague promise We recognize that Canadians are living through a period of economic, geopolitical and environmental disruption. With the impacts of climate change, including severe wildfires, floods and extreme heat; growing pressures on affordability and competitiveness; and the rising demands on our energy systems, Canadians are facing multiple challenges at this time. Positioning · 12 wordsClimate action is a key part of how we build Canada strong.Positioning Promise · 27 wordsAchieving net-zero emissions remains our commitment and strategic economic interest of Canada, supporting the broader goal of building a stronger, more competitive, resilient and economically independent economy, Claims · 24 wordsand the strongest economy in the G7. We are advancing a cohesive approach to climate action that reflects today’s geopolitical and energy security realities: Promise · 30 wordsmoving pragmatically and at a pace to advance decarbonization while working to make climate-smart choices the most practical choices for improving affordability, competitiveness, resilience and quality of life for Canadians.Vague promise Claims · 60 wordsTo us, climate action, adaptation and nature protection are interconnected. Canada’s forests, wetlands, oceans and other ecosystems help support biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and provide important economic and social benefits. Our focus is on creating the conditions for long-term transformation, mobilizing investment, accelerating innovation and building the infrastructure and industrial capacity needed to support a competitive, resilient and low-carbon economy.Partly on pointVague promise Procedure · 10 wordsWe are doing this through other elements of our agenda.Procedure Claims · 69 wordsThe national electricity strategy will electrify our economy while making life more affordable for all Canadians.¹ The nature strategy is a $3.8-billion investment in protecting 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030.² Our plan is advancing climate objectives along with broader economic objectives, laying the foundation for a cleaner, more competitive economy.Vague promise At the same time, Canada’s national adaptation strategy emphasizes that reducing emissions alone is not enough.³ Reasoning · 13 wordsCommunities must also be prepared for the climate impacts that are already occurring. Claims · 49 wordsThe strategy provides a framework for advancing resilience in areas such as disaster preparedness, infrastructure, nature and biodiversity, health, and the economy. The costs associated with climate impacts will continue to rise, reverberating throughout Canada’s economy and driving up the cost of housing, food, energy, insurance and other essentials.Partly on point Reasoning · 10 wordsThis is why climate action cannot wait until future decades. Promise · 32 wordsThe Government of Canada is moving with urgency to fight climate change while working together to build the energy security, industrial capacity and strategic autonomy that will define this century for Canada.Vague promise

At a glance

Lost points for
Echo ×15“We are going to build the strongest economy in the G7.” Said 15 times by 6 members.Every time it was said

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 84

3 of 28 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.

Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “I am very happy to rise today during this early show.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Climate action is a key part of how we build Canada strong.”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 “We are doing this through other elements of our agenda.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 43

20 of 28 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 “We recognize that Canadians are living through a period of economic, geopolitical and environmental disruption.”General description of the challenges Canadians face, not the timing of climate 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 “With the impacts of climate change, including severe wildfires, floods and extreme heat;”Lists climate impacts as context, without addressing when the government will 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 “growing pressures on affordability and competitiveness;”About affordability and competitiveness pressures, not the climate tipping points question.
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 the rising demands on our energy systems, Canadians are facing multiple challenges at this time.”Continues the general list of challenges facing Canadians, not the question asked.
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 “Climate action is a key part of how we build Canada strong.”States the role of climate action in the government’s agenda without addressing the tipping points or timing.
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 “Achieving net-zero emissions remains our commitment and strategic economic interest of Canada, supporting the broader goal of building a stronger, more competitive, resilient and economically independent economy,”About the net-zero commitment as an economic interest, not when the government will act on the alarms 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 the strongest economy in the G7.”A claim about Canada’s economy relative to the G7, not the climate action question.
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 are advancing a cohesive approach to climate action that reflects today’s geopolitical and energy security realities:”Describes the government’s general approach to climate action without addressing the tipping points 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 “moving pragmatically and at a pace to advance decarbonization while working to make climate-smart choices the most practical choices for improving affordability, competitiveness, resilience and quality of life for Canadians.”About the pace and framing of decarbonization generally, not the question of acting before tipping points.
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 us, climate action, adaptation and nature protection are interconnected.”A general statement linking climate, adaptation and nature, not an answer to the timing asked.
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 “Canada’s forests, wetlands, oceans and other ecosystems help support biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and provide important economic and social benefits.”About ecosystems and their benefits, not the alarm bells or timing of action.
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 focus is on creating the conditions for long-term transformation, mobilizing investment, accelerating innovation and building the infrastructure and industrial capacity needed to support a competitive, resilient and low-carbon economy.”Describes a long-term economic transformation agenda, not the urgent action the question 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 national electricity strategy will electrify our economy while making life more affordable for all Canadians.”About the national electricity strategy, one measure, not the question of acting before tipping points.
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 nature strategy is a $3.8-billion investment in protecting 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030.”About the nature strategy and land protection, not the climate tipping points 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 “Our plan is advancing climate objectives along with broader economic objectives, laying the foundation for a cleaner, more competitive economy.”A general statement about advancing climate with economic objectives, not the timing asked.
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 “At the same time, Canada’s national adaptation strategy emphasizes that reducing emissions alone is not enough.”About the adaptation strategy and the limits of emissions reductions alone, not when the government will act on the alarms.
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 “Communities must also be prepared for the climate impacts that are already occurring.”About preparing communities for climate impacts, not the question of urgent action on tipping points.
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 strategy provides a framework for advancing resilience in areas such as disaster preparedness, infrastructure, nature and biodiversity, health,”Lists areas covered by the adaptation strategy, not the timing of climate 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 “and the economy.”Continues the list of adaptation areas without addressing the question.
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 costs associated with climate impacts will continue to rise, reverberating throughout Canada’s economy and driving up the cost of housing, food, energy, insurance and other essentials.”About the rising costs of climate impacts, not the government’s timing of action.

Respect · 100

0 of 28 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 · 54

5 of 28 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 “We are taking action as we speak”The commitment to act names no measure, date, or success condition.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “moving pragmatically and at a pace to advance decarbonization”The commitment names no actor, measure, or timeline for advancing decarbonization.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “Our focus is on creating the conditions for long-term transformation”The commitment lists broad aims without any actor, date, or measure of success.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “laying the foundation for a cleaner, more competitive economy”The commitment asserts a goal with no date, measure, or success condition.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “moving with urgency to fight climate change”The commitment names no specific action, date, or measure by which to judge it.

Echo · 1 repeated line

Words members of Parliament keep repeating, found by the same rule for every member. No score depends on it.

“We are going to build the strongest economy in the G7.”Said 15 times by 6 members.Every time it was said

Claims · 3

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“The national electricity strategy will electrify our economy while making life more affordable for all Canadians”Canada has a national electricity strategy.search
2“The nature strategy is a $3.8-billion investment in protecting 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030”Canada’s nature strategy is a $3.8-billion investment aimed at protecting 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030.search
3“Canada’s national adaptation strategy emphasizes that reducing emissions alone is not enough”Canada has a national adaptation strategy that addresses climate resilience.search

Analysed on 2026-10-19