Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Finance 2026-04-24

92 words · 8 sentences · 9 clauses

Replying to Kelly Block (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have made grand promises of spending less and investing more, yet we heard from Finance Canada that their savings plan was not about spending less at all. With net new spending at $90 billion and interest on our nation’s debt totalling more than we spend on health care transfers, Canadians are footing the bill in the amount of $3,300 a year per family. What are the Liberals going to tell Canadians next week when they release their fiscal update? Will it doom Canadians to more of the same?”

Statement grade

Average 60 / 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%Reasoning 22%Procedure 9%The question 34%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 33 wordsI have no doubt that my colleague, the Minister of Finance will bring in an exciting update that will tell Canadians about the major progress that we are making in building Canada strong.Unearned certainty Reasoning · 20 wordsYesterday, I asked Conservatives to table a detailed list of spending cuts they propose, ¹because they talk about inflationary spending. Procedure · 8 wordsI hope my hon. colleague can help me.Procedure The question · 31 wordsIs the Canada child benefit inflationary spending? Is the dental care plan inflationary spending? Is old age security inflationary spending? Are Canada student loans inflationary spending? Could the member tell us—Off point

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 · 88

1 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.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I hope my hon. colleague can help me.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 36

8 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 question asked.

Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Yesterday, I asked Conservatives to table a detailed list of spending cuts they propose,”Turns to demanding a list of Conservative cuts instead of answering about the fiscal update.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “because they talk about inflationary spending.”Continues the attack on the Conservatives’ talk rather than the update.
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 hope my hon. colleague can help me.”Sets up a challenge to the questioner instead of answering.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Is the Canada child benefit inflationary spending?”A rhetorical question pressing the Conservative on cuts, not about the fiscal update.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Is the dental care plan inflationary spending?”Another rhetorical question making a political point in place of an answer.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Is old age security inflationary spending?”Same rhetorical challenge about Conservative positions, unresponsive to the question.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Are Canada student loans inflationary spending?”Same rhetorical challenge about Conservative positions, unresponsive to the question.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Could the member tell us—”Continues the challenge to the member rather than addressing the fiscal update.

Respect · no score

Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.

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.

Clarity · 55

1 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.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “I have no doubt”Asserts confidence about a future event with no source or basis.

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 · 1

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“Yesterday, I asked Conservatives to table a detailed list of spending cuts they propose”On April 23, 2026, in the House of Commons, Steven MacKinnon asked the Conservatives to table a detailed list of the spending cuts they propose.search

Analysed on 2026-09-15