Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Steel and Aluminum Industry 2026-04-24

87 words · 7 sentences · 7 clauses

Replying to Heather McPherson (NDP)

“Mr. Speaker, the government is not listening to steelworkers. The government left USW off its CUSMA advisory council. It also shut out the Canadian Labour Congress and the over three million Canadian workers it represents. Instead, the government gave seats to more than a dozen CEOs, prominent Conservatives and just two labour representatives. How can the government claim to be there for workers while refusing to give them seats at the table? Will the government expand worker representation before CUSMA negotiations begin, starting with the CLC?”

Statement grade

C–

Average 58 / 100

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

Claims 29%Anecdote 60%Promise 11%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 25 wordsthe minister’s advisory council includes the president of Unifor.¹ It includes the president of FTQ.² Workers’ interests will absolutely be represented on the advisory council.Unearned certainty Anecdote · 52 wordsI was proud, just a couple of weeks ago, to visit Sault Ste. Marie, with my incredible colleague from Sault Ste. Marie, to visit Algoma Steel and to meet with the steelworkers to talk about the exciting future of building Canada strong, buying Canadian and seeing that electric arc furnace fired up.³Anecdote Promise · 10 wordsWe are going to have a steel industry in Canada—Off point

At a glance

Lost points for
Little substanceMuch of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 36

3 of 8 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 story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I was proud, just a couple of weeks ago, to visit Sault Ste.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Marie, with my incredible colleague from Sault Ste.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Marie, to visit Algoma Steel and to meet with the steelworkers to talk about the exciting future of building Canada strong, buying Canadian and seeing that electric arc furnace fired up.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 69

4 of 8 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 “I was proud, just a couple of weeks ago, to visit Sault Ste.”Shifts to an anecdote about visiting Sault Ste. Marie rather than answering about worker representation on the council
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Marie, with my incredible colleague from Sault Ste.”Continues the travel anecdote, not about council composition
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Marie, to visit Algoma Steel and to meet with the steelworkers to talk about the exciting future of building Canada strong, buying Canadian and seeing that electric arc furnace fired up.”Describes a plant visit and buying Canadian, not about expanding worker seats at the table
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “We are going to have a steel industry in Canada—”General assertion about the steel industry, not responsive to the representation question

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 · 69

1 of 8 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 “will absolutely be represented”The word ‘absolutely’ asserts a guaranteed outcome with no source or mechanism offered for how representation will happen.

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“the minister’s advisory council includes the president of Unifor”The minister’s CUSMA advisory council includes the president of Unifor.search
2“It includes the president of FTQ”The minister’s CUSMA advisory council includes the president of the FTQ.search
3“to visit Algoma Steel and to meet with the steelworkers”Steven MacKinnon visited Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie and met with steelworkers about two weeks before April 24, 2026.search

Analysed on 2026-09-15