Analysis · Speech on a motion · beta

Kody Blois

Liberal on Business of Supply 2026-10-27

1446 words · 67 sentences · 89 clauses

Statement grade

Average 92 / 100

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

Greeting 1%Procedure 9%Reasoning 19%Claims 59%Positioning 4%Anecdote 5%The ask 3%

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

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 18 wordsit is a pleasure, as always, to rise in the House on behalf of my constituents in Kings—Hants, GreetingProcedure · 68 wordsbut also in my role as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, to take part in the debate on the Conservative opposition day motion moved today concerning Canada’s fiscal situation. I would like to raise a few important points for the benefit of Canadians who may be watching at home today and following the debates in the House of Commons in order to better understand the overall situation.Procedure Reasoning · 36 wordsIn my view and in the government’s view, the wording of the motion moved today by the Conservatives is problematic because it fails to take some crucial context into account, including Canada’s fiscal position in general. Procedure · 17 wordsI am going to start by going to the first point in the text of the motion.Procedure Claims · 15 wordsThe Conservatives assert that “the cost of government is driving up the cost of living.”¹ Positioning · 7 wordsI would reject the premise of that.Positioning Claims · 231 wordsThe text of the motion fails to take into consideration the fact that the government has a comprehensive expenditure review, ²and the government will be reducing government expenditures by $80 billion over the next five years.³ Part of that includes downsizing the number of staff of the Government of Canada, the federal government, and targets have already been met in that domain. The motion fails to recognize that global events are having an impact on the cost of living for all countries, not just Canada. There is a blockade at the Strait of Hormuz, ⁴which is impacting global energy prices, and that is being felt globally. That is, of course, being felt by Canadians because it is a domestic challenge we are facing, but it is being felt by countries around the world. There is also a war in eastern Europe, in Ukraine, ⁵and while we have been a steadfast ally in supporting Ukraine, the implications on food security and energy security are felt globally. We are in a global trading environment, but our government has focused on controlling what we can here at home.Vague promise The Conservative text of the motion today fails to understand the work that the government is doing to reduce operational costs. The text of the motion does not take into consideration the government’s promise to balance the operating spending of the government by fiscal year 2028-29.⁶ Procedure · 3 wordsThat is important.Procedure Anecdote · 24 wordsI am a proud Nova Scotian. I get to see the work of rebuilding the Royal Canadian Navy in Halifax, in my home province, AnecdoteClaims · 23 wordswhere we are making generational investments that started under a previous government but have continued. We have also reinvested in the River-class destroyer.⁷ Reasoning · 82 wordsThose are long-term investments that I hope all members of this House understand are important for protecting our sovereignty and providing for the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces.Partly on point Our goal as a government is to make sure that the expenditures the government takes on are part of the long-term industrial capacity and long-term economic growth of the country, and that we have a true balance in the types of operational spending the government is going to be taking on. Claims · 64 wordsThe Conservatives ran on a platform in the last election that included approximately $130 billion of new spending.⁸ My hon. colleagues across the way can appreciate that it feels somewhat facetious to raise this type of measure when the platform promises of the Conservatives, had they been in government, would have led them to spend $130 billion above and beyond expenditures at the time. Procedure · 12 wordsThat is an important piece. Let us talk about Canada’s fiscal position.Procedure Reasoning · 6 wordsGovernments are different from household finances, Procedure · 8 wordsbut let us think about the average Canadian.Procedure Anecdote · 49 wordsMy wife and I, when we were able to buy a home, did not have the money to outright buy a home. We had to get a mortgage from a bank. We had to take on debt to build a future, raise a family and live in our community.Anecdote Reasoning · 29 wordsGovernments are no different. Governments have to look at the borrowing costs of making longer-term investments versus the sustainability of taking on the debt obligation to drive longer-term outcomes. Claims · 160 wordsNowhere in the Conservative motion today does it highlight that Canada has the best fiscal position and net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7.⁹ Canadians need to understand that Canada’s overall debt, as a relative size, is proportionate to the economy. We are four times the factor in the better than Germany.¹⁰ On the net debt-to-GDP ratio, our fiscal position is nine times better than the United States’s.¹¹ We also have the second-lowest deficit in the G7.¹² This is at a time when the government is cutting in certain areas and making tough choices, while at the same time making massive investments in energy, critical minerals, defence and the things that we believe are important long-term for the Canadian economy and our sovereignty. Nowhere in the opposition day motion does it highlight that to Canadians. It is the prerogative of His Majesty’s loyal opposition to choose how these texts are developed, but nowhere does it recognize that that is the case. Reasoning · 18 wordsThe one area where I would agree with the Conservative position is that we have to remain vigilant. Claims · 52 wordsBond rate increases are happening around the world. If we look at what is happening in France right now, its government bond yields are continuing to go up, ¹³which means the cost for the government to borrow is going higher and higher. That is now starting to be priced into the market. Positioning · 15 wordsOur Prime Minister and this government understand that we need to maintain Canada’s fiscal position.Positioning Claims · 214 wordsThat is exactly what we are doing in the face of global market uncertainty, particularly around financing. Today’s motion is also about affordability. The wording of the motion moved by the Conservatives links government spending with affordability and the cost of living in general. It is unfortunate that the Conservatives fail to mention the affordability measures that our government has introduced. For example, the national child care program is a concrete measure that is intended to help educate our young people, ¹⁴but it is also intended to make life more affordable for parents. We are working with the provinces and territories. As my hon. colleague from Cumberland—Colchester mentioned earlier, there are school programs in place across the country.¹⁵ Through Canada’s national school food program, we are ensuring that 400,000 students across the country have the opportunity to eat breakfast or lunch made with food from local farms.¹⁶ There is also the Canada child benefit. In my riding, that benefit offers families nearly $17 million to help them provide for their children.¹⁷ The amount is calculated based on household income.¹⁸ Those are concrete measures that the government gas put forward. I also mentioned the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. That is why the government proposed eliminating the federal excise tax on gasoline and diesel.¹⁹ Procedure · 3 wordsThis is important.Procedure Claims · 30 wordsThis measure is not there to guarantee that everything goes smoothly, but the government is using this concrete measure to give farmers, businesses and the general public a helping hand. Procedure · 20 wordsI really look forward to the debate. I did not have the opportunity to be on my feet this morning.Procedure Claims · 27 wordsI look forward to hearing from my colleagues about how the Conservative position seems to not reconcile the fact that Canada is in a strong fiscal position. Reasoning · 90 wordsI have no problem with His Majesty’s loyal opposition highlighting that the government needs to remain diligent and needs to be thoughtful about its approach in the days ahead, but the text of the motion was presented to the House today without presenting any of the key statistics that actually outline Canada’s fiscal position. It is difficult, certainly, for a government, and, I would say, many members of Parliament, to be able to vote without those key statistics that provide Canadians a better overall picture of where we are at. Claims · 38 wordsThe ability to talk about the fact that the debt servicing costs of governments across the world are rising because of bond rates and that governments need to be fiscally responsible and thoughtful, balancing operations and balancing budgets, Reasoning · 12 wordswhile at the same time making long-term investments, is all fair game, Positioning · 37 wordsbut that level of nuance is something that I have rarely seen from the Conservative Party in my seven years, even though I have great friends across the way and there are some thoughtful colleagues, for sure.²⁰Positioning The ask · 38 wordsI would like to see the party in general try to find the types of texts that we could vote on and that, I think, are a little bit more balanced in terms of how they move forward.

At a glance

Lost points for
Echo ×7“Is it the Canada child benefit?” Said 7 times by 3 members.Every time it was said

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 75

20 of 26 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.

Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “it is a pleasure,”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “as always, to rise in the House on behalf of my constituents in Kings—Hants,”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “but also in my role as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, to take part in the debate on the Conservative opposition day motion moved today concerning Canada’s fiscal situation.”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 “I would like to raise a few important points for the benefit of Canadians who may be watching at home today and following the debates in the House of Commons in order to better understand the overall situation.”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 “I am going to start by going to the first point in the text of the motion.”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 would reject the premise of 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 “That is important.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I am a proud Nova Scotian.”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 get to see the work of rebuilding the Royal Canadian Navy in Halifax, in my home province,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “That is an important piece.”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 “Let us talk about Canada’s fiscal position.”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 “but let us think about the average Canadian.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “My wife and I, when we were able to buy a home, did not have the money to outright buy a home.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “We had to get a mortgage from a bank.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “We had to take on debt to build a future, raise a family and live in our community.”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 “Our Prime Minister and this government understand that we need to maintain Canada’s fiscal position.”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 “This is 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 “I really look forward to the debate.”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 “I did not have the opportunity to be on my feet this morning.”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 “but that level of nuance is something that I have rarely seen from the Conservative Party in my seven years, even though I have great friends across the way and there are some thoughtful colleagues, for sure.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 97

5 of 26 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.

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 am a proud Nova Scotian.”A personal aside about the member’s province, not the motion’s claims about spending or debt.
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 get to see the work of rebuilding the Royal Canadian Navy in Halifax, in my home province,”About naval rebuilding in Halifax rather than the motion’s claims on spending, debt interest or taxes.
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 we are making generational investments that started under a previous government but have continued.”About naval investments in Halifax, not the motion’s fiscal claims.
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 also reinvested in the River-class destroyer.”About destroyer reinvestment, not the motion’s claims about spending or debt.
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 “Those are long-term investments that I hope all members of this House understand are important for protecting our sovereignty and providing for the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces.”About defence investments’ value, not the motion’s fiscal claims.

Respect · 100

0 of 26 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 26 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 “controlling what we can here at home”A commitment to control costs that names no measure, actor or success condition.

Echo · 1 repeated line

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

“Is it the Canada child benefit?”Said 7 times by 3 members.Every time it was said

Claims · 20

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 cost of government is driving up the cost of living”The Conservative opposition day motion of 2026-10-27 states as its first premise that the cost of government is driving up the cost of living.search
2“the government has a comprehensive expenditure review”The Government of Canada has a comprehensive expenditure review under way.search
3“reducing government expenditures by $80 billion over the next five years”The Government of Canada plans to reduce its expenditures by $80 billion over the next five years.search
4“There is a blockade at the Strait of Hormuz”There is a blockade at the Strait of Hormuz.search
5“a war in eastern Europe, in Ukraine”There is a war in Ukraine in eastern Europe.search
6“the government’s promise to balance the operating spending of the government by fiscal year 2028-29”The Government of Canada has promised to balance its operating spending by fiscal year 2028-29.search
7“We have also reinvested in the River-class destroyer”The Government of Canada has reinvested in the River-class destroyer program.search
8“approximately $130 billion of new spending”The Conservative Party’s platform in the last federal election included approximately $130 billion of new spending.search
9“Canada has the best fiscal position and net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7”Canada has the best net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7.search
10“We are four times the factor in the better than Germany”Canada’s net debt-to-GDP ratio is four times better than Germany’s.search
11“our fiscal position is nine times better than the United States’s”Canada’s net debt-to-GDP ratio is nine times better than the United States’s.search
12“the second-lowest deficit in the G7”Canada has the second-lowest deficit in the G7.search
13“its government bond yields are continuing to go up”France’s government bond yields are currently rising.search
14“the national child care program”Canada has a national child care program.search
15“my hon. colleague from Cumberland—Colchester mentioned earlier”The member for Cumberland—Colchester spoke earlier in this debate on 2026-10-27.search
16“400,000 students across the country have the opportunity to eat breakfast or lunch made with food from local farms”Canada’s national school food program gives 400,000 students across the country access to breakfast or lunch made with food from local farms.search
17“nearly $17 million”The Canada child benefit provides nearly $17 million to families in the riding of Kings—Hants.search
18“The amount is calculated based on household income”The Canada child benefit amount is calculated based on household income.search
19“the government proposed eliminating the federal excise tax on gasoline and diesel”The Government of Canada has proposed eliminating the federal excise tax on gasoline and diesel.search
20“in my seven years”Kody Blois has been a member of Parliament for seven years.search

Analysed on 2026-10-29