Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Government Business No. 9—Changes to the Standing Orders 2026-04-27

148 words · 8 sentences · 11 clauses

Replying to Kelly DeRidder (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, I have heard the government House leader say multiple times today that the government wants to maintain the institutions that are in place and that it wants to respect democracy. I find it quite ironic that these words are even being used, considering that in over 150 years of Canadian Parliament, active recruitment to secure a majority has never happened in this place. Not listening to Canadian voters and not respecting a minority government has never happened in this place. My question for the government House leader is very simple: Will the government keep the makeup of committees as elected, as the Canadian voices elected them to be at the time of Parliament, instead of now trying to get a supermajority for itself to hide from accountability?”

Statement grade

C+

67 / 100, held down by Relevance

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

Claims 100%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 148 wordsthere is no such thing as a supermajority.Unearned certainty That is an American term.¹ Parliaments with a certain number of members do not have more power than Parliaments with a lower number of government members. What I would say in response to my hon. friend is that the current majority is no less legitimate than any other majority that has existed in Canadian history. We elect members of Parliament to the House. The member, my colleagues on this side of the House, and I are all elected as individuals. Yes, we wear a party label and we have a party banner, but we are elected to exercise our conscience and our judgment as we approach the House. The member knows, because I am sure she is living it, that many Canadians in opposition-held ridings expect their member of Parliament to be part of a positive solution for the country.Off point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 100

0 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.

Nothing lost points.

Relevance · 37

7 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 point put to the member, and the motion under debate.

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 elect members of Parliament to the House.”Turns to how members are elected generally instead of the committee makeup 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 “The member, my colleagues on this side of the House,”Describes members on the government side rather than addressing committee 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 “and I are all elected as individuals.”Speaks to individual election, not the question about committee seats.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Yes, we wear a party label and we have a party banner,”Talks of party labels, not the committee composition asked about.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “but we are elected to exercise our conscience and our judgment as we approach the House.”Discusses conscience and judgment in place of answering on committees.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “The member knows,”Addresses the member personally rather than 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 “because I am sure she is living it, that many Canadians in opposition-held ridings expect their member of Parliament to be part of a positive solution for the country.”Shifts to expectations of voters in opposition ridings, not committee makeup.

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 · 92

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 “there is no such thing as a supermajority”Asserted flatly with no source or argument instead of engaging the member’s claim.

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“That is an American term”The term ‘supermajority’ is of American origin rather than Canadian parliamentary usage.search

Analysed on 2026-09-16