Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Adam Chambers

Conservative on Canada Revenue Agency Act 2026-10-20

399 words · 15 sentences · 20 clauses

Statement grade

75 / 100, held down by Signal

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

Thanks 44%Claims 45%Aside 9%Reasoning 2%

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

Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 89 wordsit was a pleasure indeed to hear the wonderful words of my colleagues from multiple parties in this chamber about the need for greater transparency at the CRA and, if I heard correctly, general support of the principles of Bill S-217. I have to commend my hon. colleague from Calgary Crowfoot for his following of this issue, from sponsoring a bill similar to this in a previous Parliament to his work on the finance committee, which helped expose some of the challenges that this bill would help to address.Thanks Claims · 24 wordsAs he has said, this is indeed the third time that this chamber has been given the opportunity to pass this bill into law, ¹Aside · 9 wordsand I think the third time is the charm.AsideOff point Thanks · 27 wordsI also have to commend the principal proposer of this bill, Senator Downe, who is a tireless advocate for greater transparency, greater efficiency and a better-functioning CRA.Thanks Claims · 154 wordsMany Canadians were dismayed and, frankly, shocked this weekend by what was reported by the CBC. Harvey Cashore has been doing a lot of work with his colleagues at the CBC, including Daniel Leblanc, on exposing some of the challenges of the large-scale frauds that are perpetrated on the public but that somehow escape even the most simple screening at the CRA. In one case, an individual was paid $40 million in tax refunds.² This individual was a regular T4-ed employee living in northern Ontario.³ For fun, he submitted a fake tax return, ⁴and he got a $40-million refund as a result. Even he could not believe he was going to get that refund. Bills like Bill S-217 would require greater transparency at the CRA, as has been discussed, to identify the tax gap and then, when there are bad actors or tax evasion, require that that information be made public to all Canadians.⁵ Reasoning · 9 wordsThe least that Canadians should expect is greater transparency. Thanks · 22 wordsI want to thank Senator Percy Downe for his tireless advocacy and congratulate him on passing this bill for a third time.⁶Thanks Aside · 28 wordsI hope we will be able to have a phone call tomorrow morning with the senator to tell him that this House duly passed this legislation this evening.AsideOff point Thanks · 37 wordsOf course, we should also thank the drafters and the parliamentary support personnel in the legal team here who support private members, both in the House and in the Senate, to bring forward common-sense pieces of legislation.Thanks

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 45

9 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.

Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “it was a pleasure indeed to hear the wonderful words of my colleagues from multiple parties in this chamber about the need for greater transparency at the CRA and,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “if I heard correctly, general support of the principles of Bill S-217.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I have to commend my hon. colleague from Calgary Crowfoot for his following of this issue, from sponsoring a bill similar to this in a previous Parliament to his work on the finance committee,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “which helped expose some of the challenges that this bill would help to address.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “and I think the third time is the charm.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I also have to commend the principal proposer of this bill, Senator Downe, who is a tireless advocate for greater transparency, greater efficiency and a better-functioning CRA.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I want to thank Senator Percy Downe for his tireless advocacy and congratulate him on passing this bill for a third time.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “I hope we will be able to have a phone call tomorrow morning with the senator to tell him that this House duly passed this legislation this evening.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Of course, we should also thank the drafters and the parliamentary support personnel in the legal team here who support private members, both in the House and in the Senate, to bring forward common-sense pieces of legislation.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

2 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 bill under debate.

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 think the third time is the charm.”A remark about third time being the charm, not about the bill.
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 hope we will be able to have a phone call tomorrow morning with the senator to tell him that this House duly passed this legislation this evening.”About a planned phone call with the senator, not the bill.

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 · 100

0 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.

Nothing lost points.

Claims · 6

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“this is indeed the third time that this chamber has been given the opportunity to pass this bill into law”Bill S-217 (the Canada Revenue Agency Act bill) is the third time the House of Commons has had the opportunity to pass this legislation.search
2“an individual was paid $40 million in tax refunds”An individual was paid $40 million in tax refunds by the CRA in a fraud case reported by the CBC.search
3“This individual was a regular T4-ed employee living in northern Ontario”The individual who received the $40-million refund was a regular T4 employee living in northern Ontario.search
4“he submitted a fake tax return”The individual submitted a fake tax return and received the $40-million refund.search
5“when there are bad actors or tax evasion, require that that information be made public”Bill S-217 would require that information about bad actors or tax evasion at the CRA be made public.search
6“congratulate him on passing this bill for a third time”Senator Percy Downe has sponsored this CRA transparency bill, which has passed a third time.search

Analysed on 2026-10-22