Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Heather McPherson

NDP on Business of Supply 2026-10-22

153 words · 12 sentences · 14 clauses

Replying to Martin Champoux (Bloc Québécois)

“Mr Speaker, I need not tell you how much I appreciate the comments we just heard from my colleague from Edmonton Strathcona, with whom I once had the great pleasure of working on the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage and, incidentally, on this sort of bill. I want to ask my NDP colleague what she thinks of what I would call a cynical move. What does she make of the fact that the government has the power to impose levies on the tech giants, as recommended by the CRTC, but chose not to do so? Instead, it chose to pass on a $600-million bill to Canadians, many of whom, out of solidarity with the cultural sector, but also in support of the government’s efforts to negotiate an agreement with the United States, have decided to cancel their subscriptions to the American platforms. Is it not a bit cynical for the government to say that it is going to pass the bill on to people who, out of solidarity, chose not to subscribe or to cancel their subscription? What are my colleague’s thoughts on this?”

Statement grade

C+

Average 69 / 100

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

Thanks 24%Procedure 16%Claims 45%Positioning 14%

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

Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 37 wordsI want to thank my colleague for bringing this motion forward and making sure that people in Quebec and across Canada are aware of what is being done right now in Canada, what the government is doing.Thanks Procedure · 11 wordsI think it is really important. It is an important moment.Procedure Claims · 7 wordsRight now, our sovereignty is under attack.Off point Procedure · 4 wordsWe all know that.ProcedureUnearned certainty Claims · 37 wordsEveryone in this place knows that our sovereignty is being threatened by Donald Trump and the United States administration, Off pointand the fact is that the Government of Canada has decided to give a gift to web giants.Unearned certainty Positioning · 11 wordsThese are among the most bad actors in the corporate world.Positioning Claims · 25 wordsThe government gave them billions of dollars in subsidies, in effect, ¹and then took $600 million from Canadian citizens to make up for the shortfall.² Procedure · 10 wordsThe member spoke about cynicism. It is not just cynicism.Procedure Positioning · 11 wordsIt is so disappointing. It is such a failure of leadership.PositioningPartly on point

At a glance

Lost points for
Little substanceMuch of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 39

9 of 15 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 “I want to thank my colleague for bringing this motion forward and making sure that people in Quebec and across Canada are aware of what is being done right now in Canada, what the government is doing.”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 “I think it is really important.”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 “It is an important moment.”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 “We all know that.”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 “These are among the most bad actors in the corporate world.”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 “The member spoke about cynicism.”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 “It is not just cynicism.”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 “It is so disappointing.”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 such a failure of leadership.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 61

4 of 15 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 motion 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 “Right now, our sovereignty is under attack.”The clause discusses general threats to sovereignty which is a separate topic from the financial and regulatory choices questioned.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Everyone in this place knows that our sovereignty is being threatened by Donald Trump and the United States administration,”The clause focuses on threats from the United States administration rather than the internal government policy questioned.
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 is so disappointing.”The clause expresses a general feeling of disappointment related to the outcome of the government’s decisions.
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 is such a failure of leadership.”The clause makes a critical evaluation of the government’s performance in addressing the issue raised.

Respect · 100

0 of 15 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 · 76

2 of 15 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 “We all know that”The phrase asserts a shared understanding of a fact without providing any evidence or external source.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “the fact is that”The speaker asserts the information as a settled truth without relying on verifiable evidence.

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“gave them billions of dollars in subsidies, in effect”The Government of Canada, by scrapping the Digital Services Tax, in effect gave web giants billions of dollars, per the speaker’s characterization.search
2“took $600 million from Canadian citizens”The Government of Canada is taking $600 million from Canadian citizens to make up the shortfall left by the scrapped Digital Services Tax.search

Analysed on 2026-10-24