Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Chris Bittle

Liberal on Safe Social Media Act 2026-10-28

160 words · 8 sentences · 13 clauses

Replying to William Stevenson (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, I am assuming the bill will go to committee. When it gets there, what does the member see as the division, the line, between, on the one side, what is going to help protect our children and, on the other, free speech? I am lucky that my daughters are both in their twenties now. I cannot really worry too much about them, but I do worry about the future, when I hopefully have grandchildren. Over 10 or 20 years, things are changing rapidly. How can this legislation be lasting and actually have a long-term future?”

Statement grade

B+

Average 80 / 100

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

Aside 35%Claims 31%Reasoning 12%Promise 14%The ask 8%

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

Mr. Speaker, Aside · 29 wordsto be honest, I am envious of the hon. member, and I hope I can find a way to jump my kids to that point through these difficult times.Aside Claims · 16 wordsThe member keeps talking about free speech, which is fundamentally important and protected by the charter.¹ Aside · 27 wordsTo paraphrase, I think it was Jon Stewart who said that social media is to free speech like twinkies are to food.² It is highly processed garbage.Aside Claims · 12 wordsThe algorithm is controlling what we see and what our kids see. Reasoning · 20 wordsWe cannot just wave this away as free speech and hope the social media companies will do the right thing, Claims · 21 wordsbecause we have seen, for too many years, that dead kids are okay to them and part of their business model.³ Promise · 23 wordsThe committee will meet and do important things. Amendments will be made, Hidden agencyand we will get to the best possible legislation we can, Vague promiseThe ask · 12 wordsbut we need to get the bill there as quickly as possible.Partly on point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 57

4 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.

A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “to be honest, I am envious of the hon. member,”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “and I hope I can find a way to jump my kids to that point through these difficult times.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “To paraphrase, I think it was Jon Stewart who said that social media is to free speech like twinkies are to food.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “It is highly processed garbage.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 79

4 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 “The committee will meet and do important things.”About committee process and upcoming amendments, not the free-speech line or the legislation’s long-term future 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 “Amendments will be made,”About the committee amending the bill, not the free-speech line or the legislation’s long-term future 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 “and we will get to the best possible legislation we can,”About achieving the best legislation through committee, not the free-speech line or the legislation’s long-term future 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 “but we need to get the bill there as quickly as possible.”A call to move the bill to committee quickly, not the free-speech line or the legislation’s long-term future asked about.

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 · 82

2 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.

Wording that hides who did something, or who will.What the tags mean “Amendments will be made”The passive leaves out who will make the amendments, which is the very thing at issue.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we will get to the best possible legislation we can”A commitment with no measure, date or success condition beyond an unmeasurable superlative.

Claims · 3

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“protected by the charter”Free speech is fundamentally important and protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.search
2“it was Jon Stewart who said that social media is to free speech like twinkies are to food”Jon Stewart said that social media is to free speech like twinkies are to food.search
3“dead kids are okay to them and part of their business model”Social media companies treat dead children as acceptable and as part of their business model.search

Analysed on 2026-10-30