Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Leslie Church

Liberal on Safe Social Media Act 2026-10-28

156 words · 7 sentences · 10 clauses

Replying to Elizabeth May (Green)

“Madam Speaker, I want to get back to the point I was making to the member for University—Rosedale. I do not think we disagree in this place that the companies that are producing the hazardous product of so-called online services on what they call platforms are way smarter than any bureaucrat and way smarter than anyone drafting this legislation. This is their playground. They know what they are doing with algorithms. They know how they are making addictive content to keep people scrolling, whether it is seniors or children. How do we create a maximum incentive for the producer of the hazardous product to keep our children safe? This bill would not do that. This bill says the penalty is to encourage compliance with this vague law. It does not say we can drive them out of business if they harm our children.”

Statement grade

Average 78 / 100

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

Claims 36%Positioning 12%Reasoning 21%Promise 31%

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

Madam Speaker, Claims · 22 wordsthe bill would make provisions for penalties in this scheme, ¹and the companies have an interest in having their products in market. Positioning · 9 wordsWe want to make sure those products are safe, PositioningVague promiseReasoning · 33 wordsso if they are designed safely and if they meet the test the commission would set out, then we are going to feel much more reassured about their presence inside our digital borders. Positioning · 10 wordsWe definitely know there are multiple tracks at play here.PositioningUnearned certainty Claims · 34 wordsWe are seeing this in the United States. We are seeing it in Europe. We are seeing it even with the school boards in Ontario, ²which are taking many of these companies to court.Partly on point Promise · 48 wordsI would offer my colleague across the way some hope that there are going to be multiple pathways we can look to in order to ensure that these companies are truly held liable for the social costs of the products they have put in all of our houses.Vague promise

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 83

2 of 10 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 “We want to make sure those products are safe,”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 definitely know there are multiple tracks at play here.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 80

5 of 10 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 bill 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 “We definitely know there are multiple tracks at play here.”Points to other tracks at play, not the incentive the bill itself creates.
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 seeing this in the United States.”About developments in the United States, not how the bill maximizes incentives.
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 seeing it in Europe.”About developments in Europe, not how the bill maximizes incentives.
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 seeing it even with the school boards in Ontario,”About Ontario school boards’ actions, not the incentive structure of this bill.
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 are taking many of these companies to court.”Describes the school boards’ court actions, not the bill’s incentive provisions.

Respect · 100

0 of 10 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 · 50

3 of 10 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 “We want to make sure those products are safe”A commitment to safety with no measure, date, or success condition named.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “We definitely know”Asserts knowledge in place of any source or evidence for the claim about multiple tracks.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “there are going to be multiple pathways we can look to”Offers future assurance with no actor, date, or specific pathway identified.

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“the bill would make provisions for penalties in this scheme”Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, includes provisions for penalties.search
2“We are seeing it even with the school boards in Ontario, ”School boards in Ontario are taking major social media companies to court.search

Analysed on 2026-10-30