Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Ryan Turnbull

Liberal on Adjournment Proceedings 2026-04-29

203 words · 12 sentences · 17 clauses

Replying to Helena Konanz (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to address the taxes that residents in my community pay every single day, specifically gas taxes. I have requested this opportunity to speak in light of the Minister of Veteran Affairs’ recent response to my question on April 14. Her response to my question on these gas taxes was as follows: British Columbians are happy to hear that...we are making a reduction in fuel costs from now until Labour Day. British Columbians are going to use that to go and enjoy our country as they can this summer. Maybe they will also combine that with the Canada Strong pass as they go and explore this wonderful country. The Liberal minister seems to be suggesting that the purpose of gas tax relief is to encourage more people to take a vacation or to go camping. As fellow British Columbians, she and I agree that our beautiful province certainly is a place families should explore, but it is not the main reason residents in my communities fill up their cars, trucks, vans or SUVs. A family in Hedley does it to get to the grocery store or a hockey practice. A senior in Rock Creek fills up to attend medical appointments or check in with friends. A forestry worker in Christina Lake needs fuel to get to work and then to get home safely. Driving is a fact of life for tens of thousands of residents in my community. That is not to mention the hauling, the transporting or the towing that empties our tanks even faster. Subways, electric buses and public bicycles, which I often hear Liberals talk about, are not available in the communities I serve. A job in the forestry, mining or agriculture sector does not just happen right down the street. It takes a lot of gas to get rural school buses going or to get essentials to rural supermarkets, not just in the spring or summer, but in the autumn and winter. That is why it is now costing a lot more. Higher gas prices truly punish rural communities. That is why Conservatives are offering a full-year gas tax relief plan with zero federal tax on gas and diesel for the rest of 2026, paid for by ending Liberal spending on the gun buyback program, consulting fees and wasteful foreign aid. Our plan would eliminate the fuel excise tax, 10¢ a litre; the clean fuel standard, seven cents; and GST, eight cents, to save every driver 25¢ a litre. This would not just be savings at the gas station as people would also save when they buy an item that has to be shipped to our shelves, where higher transport costs mean bigger receipts. The Liberal plan offers no excise tax on gas until Labour Day. Presumably, that is when Canadians will stop camping. Even now, with the Liberal plan in effect, Castanet reports that “prices at the pumps soared to their highest levels in years” today in the Okanagan, rising roughly 30¢ a litre from just the night earlier. In my home community of Penticton, every gas station today has it above $1.90 a litre. My question to the government is as follows: Given these sudden and shocking increases and the instability in the Middle East, why does the member think Canadians will not need gas tax relief past Labour Day?”

Statement grade

38 / 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 82%Positioning 18%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 115 wordsthe groceries and essentials benefit that we announced will put almost $1,900 into families’ pockets this year, ¹which is significant support. I would offer that this is significant direct support to 12 million Canadians.²Partly on point We also offered immediate expensing for greenhouses and an injection of funds to the local food infrastructure fund, ³as well as $500 million more in support through the strategic response fund geared toward supply chains in Canada.⁴ We are also developing a food security strategy. I have long advocated for the fact that the Government of Canada needs to have not only a national food policy, which we developed back in 2018, ⁵but an actual food security strategy for the country. Positioning · 10 wordsIt is great to see us having made that commitment.Positioning Claims · 17 wordsConsultations are under way.⁶ I know that this plan will provide benefits to Canadians in the future, Unearned certaintyPositioning · 24 wordsso that is exciting. With all that said, we are also doing it well, managing the resources of the country in a responsible way.Positioning Claims · 17 wordsWe have seen that the deficit, just in the spring economic update, is down by $11 billion.⁷ Positioning · 3 wordsThat is significant.Positioning Claims · 17 wordsWe have brought operational spending back into check, with reducing day-to-day operational spending over the time horizon.Off point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 74

4 of 22 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “It is great to see us having made that commitment.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “so that is exciting.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “With all that said, we are also doing it well, managing the resources of the country in a responsible way.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “That is significant.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 8

17 of 22 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 on notice, as the member's speech raises 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 “the groceries and essentials benefit that we announced will put almost $1,900 into families’ pockets this year,”About a groceries benefit, not the gas tax relief past Labour Day that was 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 “which is significant support.”Characterizes the groceries benefit, which does not address the gas tax relief question.
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 would offer that this is significant direct support to 12 million Canadians.”Restates the groceries benefit’s reach, not the gas tax relief 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 “We also offered immediate expensing for greenhouses and an injection of funds to the local food infrastructure fund,”About greenhouse expensing and a food infrastructure fund, not gas taxes.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “as well as $500 million more in support through the strategic response fund geared toward supply chains in Canada.”About a supply chain fund, not the gas tax relief 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 “We are also developing a food security strategy.”About developing a food security strategy, not gas taxes.
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 have long advocated for the fact that the Government of Canada needs to have not only a national food policy,”About the member’s advocacy on food policy, not gas tax relief.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “which we developed back in 2018,”About the 2018 national food policy, not 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 “but an actual food security strategy for the country.”About a food security strategy, not gas taxes.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “It is great to see us having made that commitment.”Comments on the food strategy commitment, not the gas tax relief 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 “Consultations are under way.”About consultations on the food strategy, not gas taxes.
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 know that this plan will provide benefits to Canadians in the future,”About future benefits of the food plan, not the gas tax relief 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 “so that is exciting.”An aside about the food plan, not 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 “With all that said, we are also doing it well, managing the resources of the country in a responsible way.”About general fiscal management, not gas tax relief past Labour Day.
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 have seen that the deficit, just in the spring economic update, is down by $11 billion.”About the deficit in the spring economic update, not the gas tax 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 “That is significant.”A comment on the deficit figure, not the gas tax relief 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 “We have brought operational spending back into check, with reducing day-to-day operational spending over the time horizon.”About operational spending reductions, not gas taxes.

Respect · 100

0 of 22 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 · 90

1 of 22 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 know that this plan will provide benefits”The speaker asserts personal knowledge of future benefits in place of any source or evidence.

Claims · 7

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 groceries and essentials benefit that we announced will put almost $1,900 into families’ pockets this year”The groceries and essentials benefit announced by the government will put almost $1,900 into families’ pockets in 2026.search
2“significant direct support to 12 million Canadians”The groceries and essentials benefit provides direct support to 12 million Canadians.search
3“immediate expensing for greenhouses and an injection of funds to the local food infrastructure fund”The government offered immediate expensing for greenhouses and injected funds into the local food infrastructure fund.search
4“$500 million more in support through the strategic response fund geared toward supply chains in Canada”The government provided $500 million through the strategic response fund aimed at Canadian supply chains.search
5“we developed back in 2018”Canada’s national food policy was developed in 2018.search
6“Consultations are under way”Consultations on Canada’s food security strategy are under way.search
7“the deficit, just in the spring economic update, is down by $11 billion”The spring economic update showed Canada’s federal deficit is down by $11 billion.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20