Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Jaime Battiste

Liberal on Justice 2026-10-23

66 words · 6 sentences · 8 clauses

Replying to Chak Au (Conservative)

“Madam Speaker, two weeks ago, I asked whether the Liberals would appeal the B.C. Supreme Court ruling striking down the prohibition on possessing drugs for trafficking. They hide behind the Public Prosecution Service. The October 29 deadline is approaching, yet there is still no answer. Families in Richmond Centre—Marpole are concerned and want to ask if the Attorney General will use his statutory authority to direct the PPSC to file an appeal and protect their community, yes or no?”

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 27%Claims 18%Positioning 5%Promise 50%

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

Madam Speaker, Procedure · 6 wordslet us set the record straight.Procedure Claims · 12 wordsWe have disagreed with the Cowichan ruling and we are appealing it.¹ Positioning · 3 wordsThat member knows, PositioningProcedure · 12 wordsas we have gotten up and said this a number of times.²Procedure Promise · 33 wordsWe are going to work with indigenous communities.Vague promise We are going to talk to them.Vague promise We are going to continue talking to the stakeholders, Partly on pointVague promiseand we are going to continue to appeal this.

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.
Echo ×3“Let me set the record straight.” Said 3 times by 2 members.Every time it was said

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 63

3 of 9 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 “let us set the record straight.”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 “That member knows,”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 “as we have gotten up and said this a number of times.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 72

3 of 9 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 going to work with indigenous communities.”About plans to consult Indigenous communities, not the appeal decision 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 “We are going to talk to them.”About plans to talk to communities, not the appeal decision 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 “We are going to continue talking to the stakeholders,”About ongoing stakeholder consultations, not the appeal decision asked about.

Respect · 100

0 of 9 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 · 47

3 of 9 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 “work with indigenous communities”The commitment to collaborate lacks any specified goals, mechanisms, or timeline.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “talk to them”This phrase commits to general discussions without specifying the nature or required outcomes of the dialogue.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “continue talking to the stakeholders”The speaker commits to indefinite ongoing communication without defining measurable objectives for those talks.

Echo · 1 repeated line

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

“Let me set the record straight.”Said 3 times by 2 members.Every time it was said

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“We have disagreed with the Cowichan ruling and we are appealing it”The Government of Canada disagreed with the Cowichan ruling and is appealing it.search
2“we have gotten up and said this a number of times”Government members have stated in the House a number of times that they are appealing the Cowichan ruling.search

Analysed on 2026-10-24