Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Finance 2026-04-27

87 words · 7 sentences · 9 clauses

Replying to Pierre Poilievre (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister cannot answer questions in the House of Commons because he has been wrong on every single major economic issue of our time, and the results are what Canadians are paying for now: more costs, more debt, more taxes and more of the same. In fact, the Prime Minister has given Canada the worst food inflation in the G7, the worst household debt in the G7, the worst housing costs in the G7, and the second-highest unemployment in the G7. Tomorrow, he intends to put it all on the national credit card. Trudeau had a $31-billion deficit left over for this year. Will the Prime Minister break through that limit and put that on the national credit card as well?”

Statement grade

75 / 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 28%The question 72%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 24 wordsinflation has been in the Bank of Canada’s target zone for some time, ¹but we are continuously intrigued by the notion of inflationary spending. The question · 63 wordsI want to ask, and have the Leader of the Opposition answer with absolute clarity, is it the Canada child benefit that is inflationary? Is it the Canada disability benefit? Is it the Canadian dental care plan? Is it the groceries and essentials benefit? Is it old age security? Exactly what is inflationary spending in the eyes of the Leader of the Opposition?Partly on point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.
Echo ×7“Is it the Canada child benefit?” Said 7 times by 3 members.Every time it was said
Echo ×4“Is it the Canadian dental care plan?” Said 4 times by 3 members.Every time it was said

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 100

0 of 9 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 · 45

9 of 9 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.

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 “inflation has been in the Bank of Canada’s target zone for some time,”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 are continuously intrigued by the notion of inflationary spending.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “I want to ask,”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 have the Leader of the Opposition answer with absolute clarity, is it the Canada child benefit that is inflationary?”A counter-question about which benefit programs the opposition calls inflationary, not whether the deficit limit will be broken.
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 “Is it the Canada disability benefit?”A counter-question naming the disability benefit, not answering whether the deficit limit will be broken.
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 “Is it the Canadian dental care plan?”A counter-question naming the dental care plan, not answering whether the deficit limit will be broken.
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 “Is it the groceries and essentials benefit?”A counter-question naming the groceries and essentials benefit, not answering whether the deficit limit will be broken.
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 “Is it old age security?”A counter-question naming old age security, not answering whether the deficit limit will be broken.
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 “Exactly what is inflationary spending in the eyes of the Leader of the Opposition?”Restates the counter-question about what the opposition considers inflationary, not the deficit limit asked about.

Respect · 100

0 of 9 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 · 100

0 of 9 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.

Nothing lost points.

Echo · 2 repeated lines

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
“Is it the Canadian dental care plan?”Said 4 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“inflation has been in the Bank of Canada’s target zone for some time”Canadian inflation has been within the Bank of Canada’s target range for some time as of April 2026.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20