Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Business of the House 2026-04-30

206 words · 9 sentences · 12 clauses

Replying to Luc Berthold (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to ask this highly awaited question at the most exciting time of the week in the House of Commons, the time when the opposition asks the government what business will be done tomorrow and next week. Today, in question period, we heard a wide variety of opposition questions, but what we got in return were scripted answers from the Prime Minister’s Office, 41 scripted answers to be exact. That got me worried. Given the new circumstances in the House, where we have seen four committees go in camera, I worried for a moment that the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons would say that the House would proceed in camera for question period. However, everyone knows that we believe in transparency on this side of the House. For the sake of transparency, can the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons assure us that question period will not be held in camera tomorrow and next week, and will he tell us what issues we will be addressing during that time?”

Statement grade

B–

Average 72 / 100

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

Claims 67%Positioning 17%Promise 17%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 39 wordspeople watching at home know that Conservative Party members asked literally the exact same question about 32 or 33 times today, written by their leader and handed to them.¹Unearned certainty They were instructed to simply repeat what their leader says. Positioning · 34 wordsI think that anyone who works as hard as we do to get into the House of Commons should be able to expect more than simply reading the Leader of the Opposition’s cue cards.PositioningOff point Promise · 34 wordsOf course, we will continue to work with the opposition, Vague promiseand with all members of the House, in the most transparent and open manner possible to advance the issues that matter most to Canadians.Partly on point Claims · 99 wordsThis afternoon, we will continue our consideration of the Conservative Party’s opposition day motion.² Tomorrow, we will begin second reading debate of Bill C-30, the spring economic update 2026 implementation act, ³which contains a lot of good news for Canadians. On Monday, we will resume consideration at report stage of Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act.⁴ On Wednesday of next week, we shall return to second reading debate of Bill C-30, the spring economic update 2026 implementation act, ⁵and all of its good news for Canadians. Finally, Tuesday and Thursday of next week shall be allotted days.⁶

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 74

1 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “I think that anyone who works as hard as we do to get into the House of Commons should be able to expect more than simply reading the Leader of the Opposition’s cue cards.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 45

5 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 “people watching at home know that Conservative Party members asked literally the exact same question about 32 or 33 times today, written by their leader and handed to them.”About the opposition’s scripted questions, not question period arrangements or House business.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “They were instructed to simply repeat what their leader says.”About instructions given to opposition members, 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 “I think that anyone who works as hard as we do to get into the House of Commons should be able to expect more than simply reading the Leader of the Opposition’s cue cards.”A criticism of how opposition members prepare, not an answer on question period or House business.
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 “Of course, we will continue to work with the opposition,”A general pledge to work with the opposition, not a specific assurance on question period or the business listed.
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 with all members of the House, in the most transparent and open manner possible to advance the issues that matter most to Canadians.”A general statement about working transparently, not a direct answer on whether question period will be in camera or on the week’s business.

Respect · 100

0 of 8 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 · 71

2 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 “people watching at home know”Asserts what viewers know as if it were established fact, with no source offered.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we will continue to work”A commitment by the speaker with no measure, date or success condition named.

Claims · 6

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“Conservative Party members asked literally the exact same question about 32 or 33 times today”Conservative members asked essentially the same question about 32 or 33 times during question period on April 30, 2026.search
2“This afternoon, we will continue our consideration of the Conservative Party’s opposition day motion”The House was scheduled to continue consideration of the Conservative Party’s opposition day motion on the afternoon of April 30, 2026.search
3“Tomorrow, we will begin second reading debate of Bill C-30, the spring economic update 2026 implementation act”Second reading debate of Bill C-30, the spring economic update 2026 implementation act, was scheduled to begin on May 1, 2026.search
4“On Monday, we will resume consideration at report stage of Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act”Report stage consideration of Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act, was scheduled to resume on Monday, May 4, 2026.search
5“On Wednesday of next week, we shall return to second reading debate of Bill C-30”Second reading debate of Bill C-30, the spring economic update 2026 implementation act, was scheduled to continue on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.search
6“Tuesday and Thursday of next week shall be allotted days”Tuesday, May 5, 2026 and Thursday, May 7, 2026 were designated as allotted days in the House of Commons.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20