Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal on Adjournment Proceedings 2026-10-26

541 words · 27 sentences · 33 clauses

Replying to Garnett Genuis (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, I am following up on questions I asked earlier about jobs. We face an ongoing jobs crisis in this country, most notably underlined by the latest job numbers, which show a 29-year low in workforce participation. That is, a smaller percentage of Canadians are in the workforce today than at any time in the last 29 years. In the midst of that, we see continuing hints by the government that it intends to increase payroll taxes, to increase the tax on jobs, and my earlier question was about whether the government intends to do that and why it is teasing the possibility of increasing the tax on jobs. Conservatives are opposed to increasing the tax on jobs. We think this is the worst kind of tax, and certainly during a jobs crisis, increasing the tax on jobs is a terrible idea. Meanwhile, my question highlighted the fact that the government is attacking vocational institutions by arbitrarily cutting off student grants to students at vocational institutions. This is notable because last week in the House, the minister responsible for jobs launched an absolutely vicious attack on career colleges on the floor of the House of Commons. It was really a shameful display from a minister of the Crown showing complete ignorance of the important role that vocational career colleges play in this country. It is shameful that the minister who is supposed to be responsible for jobs would say the things she said. Here is what has happened. A few bad actors, in many respects masquerading as career colleges, have been allowed under the government to abuse the system and take advantage of immigration programs. There have been bad actors who have abused the system, and there has been a failure of enforcement in that regard. However, in response to that, the government has tried to tar all career colleges with the same brush, ignoring the fact that many career colleges do excellent work, are well regulated and provide critically important career-relevant training programs to Canadian students to prepare them for Canadian jobs. We recognize on this side of the House that union training halls, not-for-profit colleges, universities and private vocational colleges are all part of an important training ecosystem that is working to prepare Canadian young people for Canadian jobs. The government’s decision to arbitrarily cut off students who are learning career-relevant skills at private vocational institutions is not right and not defensible. It has been hard for us up to now to understand why the government is doing this, but the ignorant and vicious attack on career colleges from the Minister of Jobs and Families that we heard last week in the House underlines exactly why we have this problem. It is because the minister has refused to engage with career colleges, refused to talk to students who are at those institutions and refused to understand the work they are doing. The minister and the government should be ashamed of themselves. At a time when we desperately need trades workers, when we desperately need the right training that aligns with the needs of the labour market, and when vocational institutions are very much engaged with private sector companies to prepare young people for the jobs that exist in this country, we have a government that is arbitrarily cutting off students at career colleges. This is going to have a negative effect on young people, especially from middle- and low-income backgrounds, who are trying to get relevant labour market skills. I want to ask the government if it will apologize for the outrageous display from the minister, ask her to rescind those comments and educate her about the issue.”

Statement grade

C+

65 / 100, held down by Relevance

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

Positioning 13%Claims 53%Promise 3%Procedure 13%Reasoning 12%The question 6%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 39 wordsif anyone should be apologizing, it would be the member across the way. I had to listen through four minutes of the member saying something that is, to be kind, a stretch of one’s imagination in terms of reality, PositioningOff pointClaims · 72 wordsif I can put it that way. If I were to tag onto his ending comments, one of the things I would highlight that came out of the spring economic budget for all Canadians was the investment and the commitment the Prime Minister and the government have made to a fantastic program, which is the Red Seal program. Members can think of the dozens of trades, skilled trades, that are out there. Promise · 18 wordsWe have a government that is going to increase the numbers to somewhere between 80,000 to 100,000 Canadians.⁴ Claims · 11 wordsA vast majority, I would suggest to members, are young Canadians.Partly on point Procedure · 12 wordsWhere do we think they are going to get the skills from?Procedure Reasoning · 59 wordsThey are going to get the skills from the workforce and post-secondary institutions. When we think of the reality of numbers and of recognizing the importance of our post-secondary institutions and, I must say, many of our secondary facilities across Canada, I think it is a very powerful statement of reality that the government has made the commitment to.Partly on point Procedure · 24 wordsThe member opposite makes reference to young people on the issue of jobs. Of course jobs are important. There is no doubt about that.Procedure Claims · 59 wordsAs a government, since we were elected back in the last federal election, just over a year ago, we have had a net increase of jobs, at 150,000 plus.³ That is even at a time when we have had to deal with Trump tariffs in trade.⁶ We have still been able to get a net increase of 150,000-plus jobs.Partly on point Procedure · 8 wordsThat does not mean we have stopped there.Procedure Positioning · 20 wordsWe continue to build that stronger and healthier economy by a number of initiatives that the government has brought forward, PositioningVague promiseReasoning · 7 wordsbecause we understand the value of jobs.Partly on point Procedure · 6 wordsThe member talks about youth unemployment.Procedure Claims · 32 wordsThe member opposite was working for Stephen Harper when his leader was a part of the cabinet of Stephen Harper and when youth unemployment, back in 2012, averaged over 14% that year.¹Partly on point Procedure · 6 wordsContrast that to the last year, ProcedureClaims · 47 wordswhere it is under 14%.² Unlike the Conservatives back then, who actually cut things like summer youth programs, we continue to maintain them and, at the end of the day, look at expanding programs like our Red Seal program, which is going to get more youth working.Partly on point Procedure · 8 wordsOf course we are concerned about youth unemployment.Procedure Positioning · 9 wordsI believe that the government’s actions have shown that.PositioningPartly on point Procedure · 8 wordsOf course we are concerned about overall unemployment.Procedure The question · 30 wordsWhat does the member think is one of the driving factors for our Prime Minister, the cabinet and, in fact, the entire government caucus in pushing to build major projects? Claims · 66 wordsThis attracted literally a half a trillion dollars of potential investments back in September when the Prime Minister hosted a summit for the world to come and talk about investing in Canada, ⁵which is historic amounts of money. This is not to mention the amounts of projects there are, working in collaboration with provinces and indigenous people, to build a stronger and healthier Canada for all.Partly on point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 56

13 of 36 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “if anyone should be apologizing, it would be the member across the way.”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 had to listen through four minutes of the member saying something that is, to be kind, a stretch of one’s imagination in terms of reality,”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 “Where do we think they are going to get the skills from?”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 member opposite makes reference to young people on the issue of jobs.”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 “Of course jobs are 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 “There is no doubt about that.”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 “That does not mean we have stopped there.”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 “We continue to build that stronger and healthier economy by a number of initiatives that the government has brought forward,”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 talks about youth unemployment.”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 “Contrast that to the last year,”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 “Of course we are concerned about youth unemployment.”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 believe that the government’s actions have shown 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 “Of course we are concerned about overall unemployment.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 35

22 of 36 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 on notice, as the member's speech raises it.

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 had to listen through four minutes of the member saying something that is, to be kind, a stretch of one’s imagination in terms of reality,”An attack on the member’s speech rather than an answer to the apology asked for.
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 I were to tag onto his ending comments, one of the things I would highlight that came out of the spring economic budget for all Canadians was the investment and the commitment the Prime Minister and the government have made to a fantastic program,”About the budget’s training investment, not the apology or the treatment of career colleges 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 “which is the Red Seal program.”About the Red Seal program, not what was 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 “Members can think of the dozens of trades, skilled trades, that are out there.”About the number of skilled trades, not the apology sought.
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 have a government that is going to increase the numbers to somewhere between 80,000 to 100,000 Canadians.”About government training targets, not 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 “A vast majority, I would suggest to members, are young Canadians.”About who would benefit from the program, not the apology asked for.
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 “They are going to get the skills from the workforce and post-secondary institutions.”About where skills come from, not what was 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 “When we think of the reality of numbers and of recognizing the importance of our post-secondary institutions and, I must say, many of our secondary facilities across Canada, I think it is a very powerful statement of reality that the government has made the commitment to.”Praise for government commitments on institutions, not the minister’s comments or career colleges.
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 government, since we were elected back in the last federal election, just over a year ago, we have had a net increase of jobs, at 150,000 plus.”About the government’s job creation record, not the apology or career college question.
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 is even at a time when we have had to deal with Trump tariffs in trade.”About tariffs and the jobs record, not what was 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 have still been able to get a net increase of 150,000-plus jobs.”About the jobs record again, not the question on notice.
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 continue to build that stronger and healthier economy by a number of initiatives that the government has brought forward,”General reference to government initiatives on the economy, not the career college issue.
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 we understand the value of jobs.”A general statement about valuing jobs, not what was 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 “The member opposite was working for Stephen Harper when his leader was a part of the cabinet of Stephen Harper and when youth unemployment, back in 2012, averaged over 14% that year.”About the opposition’s past record on youth unemployment, not the apology sought.
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 “where it is under 14%.”About current youth unemployment figures, not the apology or career colleges.
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 “Unlike the Conservatives back then, who actually cut things like summer youth programs, we continue to maintain them and, at the end of the day, look at expanding programs like our Red Seal program,”About past Conservative cuts and current programs, not the minister’s remarks.
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 is going to get more youth working.”About the Red Seal program’s effect on youth work, not what was 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 “I believe that the government’s actions have shown that.”Praise of government actions, not an answer to the apology question.
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 “What does the member think is one of the driving factors for our Prime Minister, the cabinet and, in fact, the entire government caucus in pushing to build major projects?”A rhetorical question about major projects, not the apology sought.
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 attracted literally a half a trillion dollars of potential investments back in September when the Prime Minister hosted a summit for the world to come and talk about investing in Canada,”About investment pledges at a summit, not the question on notice.
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 is historic amounts of money.”About the size of investment figures, not the apology or career colleges.
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 is not to mention the amounts of projects there are, working in collaboration with provinces and indigenous people, to build a stronger and healthier Canada for all.”About collaboration on building projects, not what was asked.

Respect · 100

0 of 36 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 · 90

1 of 36 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 “a number of initiatives”The speaker commits to continuing to build the economy but names no specific measure, actor or date.

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“youth unemployment, back in 2012, averaged over 14% that year”In 2012, youth unemployment averaged over 14%.search
2“where it is under 14%”Youth unemployment is currently under 14%.search
3“since we were elected back in the last federal election, just over a year ago, we have had a net increase of jobs, at 150,000 plus”Since the government was elected in the last federal election, it has achieved a net increase of 150,000 plus jobs.search
4“increase the numbers to somewhere between 80,000 to 100,000 Canadians”The government intends to increase the number of Red Seal program participants to between 80,000 and 100,000 Canadians.search
5“a half a trillion dollars of potential investments back in September”The Prime Minister hosted a summit in September that attracted a half a trillion dollars of potential investments.search
6“deal with Trump tariffs in trade”The government has dealt with Trump tariffs in trade since its election.search

Analysed on 2026-10-28