Analysis · Speech on a motion · beta

Alexis Deschênes

Bloc Québécois on Business of Supply 2026-10-22

1250 words · 76 sentences · 96 clauses

Statement grade

B+

Average 81 / 100

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

Procedure 3%Claims 40%Reasoning 19%Positioning 21%Anecdote 11%The question 7%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 6 wordsI will be sharing my time.Procedure Claims · 58 wordsThis is a message for all those who pay taxes, for all my fellow citizens in the Gaspé Peninsula, the Magdalen Islands, and throughout Quebec who, every morning when they go to buy a cup of coffee, pay a small portion of the taxes, and who, every Thursday when they receive their paycheque, agree to pay income tax. Reasoning · 38 wordsWhy do they agree to this? They do so because they know that in society, we must contribute to the common good. Together, we put money into a common pot. Then we use it for major social programs. Claims · 243 wordsThey also agree to pay these taxes because they remember what Benjamin Franklin, one of the illustrious Founding Fathers of the United States, said in 1789: Nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. If Benjamin Franklin, the American, were with us today, he would be surprised, because he would see that there are people for whom taxes are not a certainty. They are not immortal, but they manage to avoid paying taxes.Off point The tech giants, these large companies, seem to be able to slip through the cracks of the tax system and rake in truly massive profits without having to pay their fair share. This is a long-standing problem, and it affects our media and cultural industries. A few years ago, the government decided to act by bringing in the digital services tax. It was not a bad idea. In fact, it was fairly modest. The tax was set at only 3%.³ Many pay considerably more than that. It applied only to large online streaming services making global profits of more than 750 million euros. That amounted to more than $20 million in revenues for Canada.⁴ A 3% tax was a reasonable way to ensure that the web giants paid their fair share. As La Presse noted in a 2025 article, digital services companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft generally do not pay corporate income tax in foreign countries where they nevertheless generate substantial revenues from local consumers.⁸ Reasoning · 13 wordsThis situation exists because they often have no physical presence in those jurisdictions. Positioning · 34 wordsI suspect that Ben Franklin would have been angry about that.Partly on point I believe that my constituents would be as well, Off pointbecause everyone who pays their taxes expects to see some fairness in the system.PositioningPartly on point Reasoning · 12 wordsThe digital services tax was intended to correct this to some extent. Procedure · 12 wordsHowever, the current government decided to abolish it.¹ Then something else happened.Procedure Reasoning · 73 wordsThe Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, or CRTC, recognized that Canadian cultural production faced a serious funding challenge and proposed increasing levies on major online platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.⁹ The underlying concept makes sense: Companies that generate profits in Canada, use content created by Canadians and earn revenue from Canadian audiences would finally pony up a bit of cash that could then be reinvested in the cultural sector. Claims · 32 wordsOnce again, however, the government said no. These U.S. tech giants can opt out of an obligation that applies to everyone else. They do not have to contribute to the public purse. Positioning · 11 wordsThis must be because they are having such a hard time.Positioning Claims · 21 wordsIn the final quarter of 2025 alone, the tech giants netted $158 billion.⁵ That is $158 billion in a single quarter. Positioning · 67 wordsWhy, then, should we give these giant billion-dollar platforms a tax break? Why should tax fairness and justice be set aside for the benefit of the wealthiest and most powerful? I feel that people may see me as a bit of an idealist; in our society, we know that the richest and most powerful come out on top all the time. I do not agree with that.Positioning Anecdote · 25 wordsI spent 12 years as a journalist fighting injustices and 12 years as a lawyer fighting injustices. I want to do the same in politics.AnecdoteOff point Positioning · 27 wordsIt is not fair that billionaire companies that use our cultural products are not paying their fair share of taxes. There is no good reason for that.Positioning Procedure · 14 wordsHowever, this government has come up with one for us: the cost of living.Procedure Claims · 38 wordsThe Liberals are telling us that we cannot ask them to pay taxes because the cost of living is high these days. We would run the risk of seeing our subscriptions to Netflix and other companies go up. The question · 24 wordsIf we follow that line of reasoning, why do grocery stores pay taxes? Why do consumers pay taxes at restaurants if that increases prices?Partly on point Claims · 9 wordsThe cost of living is already a major concern. The question · 64 wordsWhy, then, do grocery stores and restaurants pay taxes? Why are landlords taxed on their rental income when there is a housing crisis and housing costs are already too high? Why do sawmills pay taxes if that increases the price of lumber? Why do fishers in Gaspé and the Magdalen Islands pay taxes on their income if that drives up the cost of seafood?Partly on point Reasoning · 47 wordsThey help feed Canadians, Off pointyet prices continue to go up.Partly on point That argument simply does not hold water. Moreover, if the problem were only that the argument lacked merit, that would be one thing. The reality is that the claim is not even borne out by the evidence.Unearned certainty Claims · 17 wordsSimilar levies have already been implemented in Europe, ²and they have had no impact on subscription fees. Reasoning · 49 wordsWhat is more, the government gave all of that up without even getting concessions from the web giants, without even saying that in exchange for not imposing levies, they would have to lower their prices. That is so ridiculous, it makes my head spin. Have we been lied to?Off point Positioning · 49 wordsBasically, what we have all understood is that the government is kowtowing to the Americans. The Liberals decided that the American web giants were too powerful for them and they had to roll over and let them come here and make money without paying their fair share of taxes.Positioning Anecdote · 115 wordsHowever, two days ago, in my riding of Îles‑de‑la‑Madeleine, I found out that residents will have to pay for parking at the airport. Charging parking fees at the local airport is like putting a toll booth on the Jacques‑Cartier bridge.Partly on point Planes are essential in the Magdalen Islands.Off point Now we are being told that everyone has to chip in and times are tough. As a result, poor taxpayers who are on welfare and need to take a plane from the Magdalen Islands to have an operation for cancer will have to pay for parking because they have to pull their weight, but not Amazon, Google, Microsoft or the other web giants. This clearly makes no sense.AnecdotePartly on point Claims · 80 wordsBehind all of this lies something quite tragic: Regional media outlets and artists are struggling. These levies would have generated significant revenue. The government is giving Americans a free pass without getting anything in return, and it is taking significant resources away from the cultural industry. The digital services tax amounts to $1.4 billion a year that could have been used to support a sector that was struggling.⁶ With all the levies, if American platforms had to pay a share, Positioning · 72 wordswhich was lower than that of Canadian broadcasters, we would have collected $2 billion a year.⁷ We know that there are regional media outlets that are suffering and that there are artists who need support, but out of fear of Donald Trump, the government has given up on social justice. Out of fear of Donald Trump, it has given up on supporting the cultural industry. What is the point of Canadian sovereignty?Positioning

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 59

32 of 71 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 will be sharing my time.”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 “I suspect that Ben Franklin would have been angry about that.”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 “I believe that my constituents would be as well,”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 “because everyone who pays their taxes expects to see some fairness in the system.”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 “However, the current government decided to abolish it.”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 “Then something else 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 “This must be because they are having such a hard time.”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 “Why, then, should we give these giant billion-dollar platforms a tax break?”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 “Why should tax fairness and justice be set aside for the benefit of the wealthiest and most powerful?”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 “I feel that people may see me as a bit of an idealist;”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 “in our society, we know that the richest and most powerful come out on top all the time.”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 “I do not agree with that.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I spent 12 years as a journalist fighting injustices and 12 years as a lawyer fighting injustices.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I want to do the same in politics.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “It is not fair that billionaire companies that use our cultural products are not paying their fair share of taxes.”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 “There is no good reason for that.”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 “However, this government has come up with one for us:”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 “the cost of living.”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 “Basically, what we have all understood is that the government is kowtowing to the Americans.”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 “The Liberals decided that the American web giants were too powerful for them and they had to roll over and let them come here and make money without paying their fair share of taxes.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “However, two days ago, in my riding of Îles‑de‑la‑Madeleine, I found out that residents will have to pay for parking at the airport.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Charging parking fees at the local airport is like putting a toll booth on the Jacques‑Cartier bridge.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Planes are essential in the Magdalen Islands.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Now we are being told that everyone has to chip in and times are tough.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “As a result, poor taxpayers who are on welfare and need to take a plane from the Magdalen Islands to have an operation for cancer will have to pay for parking because they have to pull their weight,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “but not Amazon, Google, Microsoft or the other web giants.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “This clearly makes no sense.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “which was lower than that of Canadian broadcasters, we would have collected $2 billion a year.”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 “We know that there are regional media outlets that are suffering and that there are artists who need support,”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 “but out of fear of Donald Trump, the government has given up on social justice.”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 “Out of fear of Donald Trump, it has given up on supporting the cultural industry.”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 “What is the point of Canadian sovereignty?”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 67

38 of 71 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 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 “This is a message for all those who pay taxes, for all my fellow citizens in the Gaspé Peninsula, the Magdalen Islands,”The clause establishes the speaker’s audience rather than addressing the motion’s subject matter.
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 throughout Quebec who, every morning when they go to buy a cup of coffee, pay a small portion of the taxes,”The clause describes how citizens contribute to taxes without relating it to the specific issues in the motion.
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 who, every Thursday when they receive their paycheque, agree to pay income tax.”The clause describes citizens paying income tax but does not address the motion’s context.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Why do they agree to this?”The clause poses a general philosophical question about why people agree to pay taxes.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “They do so because they know that in society, we must contribute to the common good.”The clause makes a general statement about society contributing to the common good, which is too broad.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Together, we put money into a common pot.”The clause provides a general description of how taxes are used, unrelated to the motion’s specifics.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Then we use it for major social programs.”The clause discusses the use of tax money for social programs generally.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “They also agree to pay these taxes because they remember what Benjamin Franklin, one of the illustrious Founding Fathers of the United States, said in 1789:”The clause quotes a historical figure regarding death and taxes, which is unrelated to the motion.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Nothing in life is certain except death and taxes.”The clause quotes Benjamin Franklin about taxes and death.
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 Benjamin Franklin, the American, were with us today, he would be surprised,”The clause speculates on how Benjamin Franklin would view modern tax evasion.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “because he would see that there are people for whom taxes are not a certainty.”The clause discusses people avoiding taxes in a general sense, not focusing on the DST or cultural sector.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “They are not immortal,”The clause makes a general statement about human mortality.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “but they manage to avoid paying taxes.”The clause discusses people successfully avoiding paying taxes in general.
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 “I suspect that Ben Franklin would have been angry about that.”The clause expresses a personal suspicion based on fairness but does not provide a direct answer or address the specific policy details asked for in the motion.
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 believe that my constituents would be as well,”The clause refers to the speaker’s constituents’ feelings about fairness generally.
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 everyone who pays their taxes expects to see some fairness in the system.”The clause relates to the general expectation of fairness in the tax system, rather than the specific calls in the motion.
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 feel that people may see me as a bit of an idealist;”The clause is a reflection on the speaker’s personal political outlook.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “in our society, we know that the richest and most powerful come out on top all the time.”The clause makes a general observation about social inequality.
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 do not agree with that.”The clause is a personal statement disagreeing with a general social observation.
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 spent 12 years as a journalist fighting injustices and 12 years as a lawyer fighting injustices.”The clause details the speaker’s professional background.
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 want to do the same in politics.”The clause is a personal statement about political goals.
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 “If we follow that line of reasoning, why do grocery stores pay taxes?”The clause poses a rhetorical question challenging the government’s cost-of-living argument by comparing it to grocery store taxes, but does not address the motion’s core calls.
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 “Why do consumers pay taxes at restaurants if that increases prices?”The clause poses a rhetorical question challenging the government’s cost-of-living argument by comparing it to restaurant taxes, but does not address the motion’s core calls.
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 “Why, then, do grocery stores and restaurants pay taxes?”The clause poses a rhetorical question challenging the government’s cost-of-living argument by comparing it to grocery store taxes, but does not address the motion’s core calls.
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 “Why are landlords taxed on their rental income when there is a housing crisis and housing costs are already too high?”The clause poses a rhetorical question challenging the government’s cost-of-living argument by comparing it to housing taxes, but does not address the motion’s core calls.
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 “Why do sawmills pay taxes if that increases the price of lumber?”The clause poses a rhetorical question challenging the government’s cost-of-living argument by comparing it to lumber taxes, but does not address the motion’s core calls.
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 “Why do fishers in Gaspé and the Magdalen Islands pay taxes on their income if that drives up the cost of seafood?”The clause poses a rhetorical question challenging the government’s cost-of-living argument by comparing it to fisher taxes, but does not address the motion’s core calls.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “They help feed Canadians,”The clause makes a general statement about the contribution of fishers to Canadians.
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 “yet prices continue to go up.”The clause observes rising prices, which is part of the broader economic challenge but does not address the motion’s specific calls.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “That is so ridiculous, it makes my head spin.”The clause is an expression of personal disbelief.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Have we been lied to?”The clause is a rhetorical question about being lied to.
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 “However, two days ago, in my riding of Îles‑de‑la‑Madeleine, I found out that residents will have to pay for parking at the airport.”The clause introduces a local anecdote about parking fees to illustrate the principle of unfair taxation without addressing the specific calls in the motion.
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 “Charging parking fees at the local airport is like putting a toll booth on the Jacques‑Cartier bridge.”The clause provides a local comparison of airport parking fees to a toll, illustrating the unfairness principle.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Planes are essential in the Magdalen Islands.”The clause states the essential role of planes in the local region.
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 “Now we are being told that everyone has to chip in and times are tough.”The clause details the difficult economic situation in the Magdalen Islands.
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 “As a result, poor taxpayers who are on welfare and need to take a plane from the Magdalen Islands to have an operation for cancer will have to pay for parking because they have to pull their weight,”The clause illustrates the burden on poor taxpayers through a local example, but does not address the motion’s specific calls.
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 not Amazon, Google, Microsoft or the other web giants.”The clause draws a comparison between the financial burden on local residents versus the tech giants, supporting the general principle of fairness.
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 clearly makes no sense.”The clause concludes that the local example does not make sense, referring back to the argument of fairness.

Respect · 100

0 of 71 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 · 98

1 of 71 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 “The reality is that the claim is not even borne out by the evidence.”The speaker asserts a definitive truth about the evidence without citing a specific source.

Claims · 9

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 current government decided to abolish it”The current government decided to abolish the digital services tax.search
2“Similar levies have already been implemented in Europe”Similar digital services levies have been implemented in Europe.search
3“The tax was set at only 3%”The digital services tax was set at a rate of 3%.search
4“That amounted to more than $20 million in revenues for Canada”The digital services tax generated more than $20 million in revenues for Canada.search
5“netted $158 billion”The tech giants netted $158 billion in the final quarter of 2025.search
6“The digital services tax amounts to $1.4 billion a year”The digital services tax amounted to $1.4 billion a year that could have supported the struggling cultural sector.search
7“we would have collected $2 billion a year”If American platforms had paid a share of similar levies, Canada would have collected $2 billion a year.search
8“As La Presse noted in a 2025 article, digital services companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft generally do not pay corporate income tax in foreign countries where they nevertheless generate substantial revenues from local consumers”An article by La Presse in 2025 reported that digital services companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft often avoid corporate income tax in foreign countries despite generating significant local revenues.search
9“or CRTC, recognized that Canadian cultural production faced a serious funding challenge and proposed increasing levies on major online platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video.”The CRTC recognized Canadian cultural production’s funding challenges and proposed increasing levies on platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.search

Analysed on 2026-10-24