Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Finance 2026-04-29

87 words · 7 sentences · 7 clauses

Replying to Eric Lefebvre (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister wants us to believe that he is creating a sovereign wealth fund. That is incorrect. A sovereign wealth fund is built with years of surpluses, budget surpluses and natural resource development. It is not built by charging $25 billion to Canadians’ collective credit card. The Liberals just ran up a record deficit, the biggest deficit outside of COVID-19. They are running up a record deficit without proving that they can manage public funds well. How can the Liberals use the credit card of future generations so shamelessly?”

Statement grade

C+

65 / 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.

Procedure 7%Claims 21%Reasoning 14%Promise 51%Positioning 8%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 6 wordslet us talk about future generations.Procedure Claims · 18 wordsMy colleague just mentioned the need for workforce training in Quebec and in the rest of the country.Off point Reasoning · 12 wordsWe also need to invest in ourselves and in major infrastructure projects. Promise · 44 wordsWe are going to enable Canadians to benefit from construction and from building a better Canada.Vague promise We are going to create job opportunities for our young people, job opportunities for the construction trades.Vague promise We are going to benefit from our workforce and our investments. Positioning · 7 wordsThat is what building Canada is about.PositioningPartly on point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 81

2 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 “let us talk about future generations.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “That is what building Canada is about.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 35

6 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 “My colleague just mentioned the need for workforce training in Quebec and in the rest of the country.”It is about workforce training in Quebec, not the deficits 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 “We also need to invest in ourselves and in major infrastructure projects.”It promotes infrastructure investment without addressing the record deficit 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 “We are going to enable Canadians to benefit from construction and from building a better Canada.”It touts construction benefits without answering the question about deficit spending.
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 “We are going to create job opportunities for our young people, job opportunities for the construction trades.”It touts job opportunities for young people without addressing the deficit burden raised.
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 “We are going to benefit from our workforce and our investments.”It touts the government’s workforce and investments without addressing the deficits 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 “That is what building Canada is about.”It is a slogan about building Canada, not an answer to the deficit question.

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 · 54

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.

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “We are going to enable Canadians to benefit from construction”The commitment names no project, measure, date or way to check success.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “We are going to create job opportunities for our young people”No actor, measure or date is given for how these jobs will be created.

Claims · 0

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

No checkable claims.

Analysed on 2026-10-20