Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Julie Dabrusin

Liberal on The Environment 2026-10-09

95 words · 7 sentences · 9 clauses

Replying to Gabriel Ste-Marie (Bloc Québécois)

“Madam Speaker, the Liberals and the Conservatives are joining forces to bulldoze over us with Bill C-39, for the benefit of the oil companies. Fortunately, opponents are starting to mobilize. The Liberal member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country has spoken out against his party’s bill. He is afraid that ministers will be able to unilaterally suspend environmental legislation. He understands that limiting consultations to one year amounts to setting a time limit on the involvement of indigenous peoples and civil society. Who else on the government side has the courage to say that Bill C‑39 is a pro-oil bill?”

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.

Procedure 15%Claims 61%Promise 24%

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

Madam Speaker, Procedure · 6 wordsI want to be very clear: ProcedureClaims · 12 wordsThere will be no lowering of environmental standards or indigenous consultation requirements.¹Vague promise Procedure · 4 wordsWhat are we doing?Procedure Claims · 46 wordsWe are focusing on efficiency.Vague promise That way, we can pursue critically important clean energy projects, like the one in Churchill Falls, which can generate enough energy to power every home in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.² There will be enough energy to power all those cities combined.Partly on point Procedure · 4 wordsHowever, there is more.Procedure Promise · 23 wordsWe are going to work with Hydro-Québec and with Quebeckers and Canadians across the country to make sure that we have clean energy.Partly on pointVague promise

At a glance

Lost points for
VagueMuch of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 80

3 of 11 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 “I want to be very 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 “What are we doing?”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 “However, there is more.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 52

5 of 11 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 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 “We are focusing on efficiency.”It describes a focus on efficiency without addressing the charges about standards and consultations in Bill C-39.
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 “That way, we can pursue critically important clean energy projects, like the one in Churchill Falls,”It names a clean energy project the government is pursuing rather than answering who in government opposes the 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 “which can generate enough energy to power every home in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.”It gives details of the Churchill Falls project’s capacity, not the bill’s effect on environmental laws.
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 “There will be enough energy to power all those cities combined.”It repeats the project’s generating capacity, adding nothing on 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 “We are going to work with Hydro-Québec and with Quebeckers and Canadians across the country to make sure that we have clean energy.”It describes cooperation with Hydro-Québec on clean energy, not who in government objects to Bill C-39 or whether laws can be suspended.

Respect · 100

0 of 11 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 · 46

3 of 11 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 “There will be no lowering of environmental standards”It asserts an outcome with no actor, measure, or condition attached to how that will be ensured.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “We are focusing on efficiency”It describes action with no measure, actor beyond ‘we’, or way to verify what is being done.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “We are going to work with Hydro-Québec”Committing to ‘work with’ someone names no measure, date, or success condition.

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“There will be no lowering of environmental standards or indigenous consultation requirements”Bill C-39 does not lower environmental standards or indigenous consultation requirements.search
2“which can generate enough energy to power every home in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver”The Churchill Falls project can generate enough energy to power every home in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver combined.search

Analysed on 2026-10-19