Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal on Taxation 2026-05-05

131 words · 13 sentences · 14 clauses

Replying to Pierre Poilievre (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, it is just another illusion. The Prime Minister brings more costs, more debt and more taxes. Let us look at gas, for example. The Prime Minister likes to blame the $1.85-a-litre cost at the pumps on the fact that we have $100 global oil prices, but in 2014, we also had $100 global oil prices and the price at the pump was $1.38, almost 50¢ cheaper, even though the world price was exactly the same. The difference is explained by the Liberal Prime Minister’s inflationary debt and newly renamed carbon taxes on top of a weak dollar. Will the Prime Minister at least take all Liberal taxes off gas for the rest of the year?”

Statement grade

79 / 100, held down by Signal

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

Aside 11%Claims 50%Procedure 7%Positioning 32%

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

Mr. Speaker, Aside · 14 wordsI know it is Tuesday, Asidebut let me help the Leader of the Opposition.Partly on pointMockery Claims · 28 wordsHe may have heard of the Strait of Hormuz.Mockery He may have heard about Iran. He may have heard about a conflict. What we are seeing is unprecedented. Procedure · 9 wordsMembers do not need to take it from us.Procedure Claims · 25 wordsThey can take it from the head of the International Energy Agency, who says that this is the biggest shock we have seen in energy.¹ Positioning · 13 wordsOn this side of the House, we are happy to do our part.Positioning Claims · 13 wordsWe are very pleased to have suspended the federal excise tax on gas.² Positioning · 29 wordsWe heard from Canadians, who said, “Give us a break. Help us at this time.” We are happy to do our part. We are going to build Canada strong.PositioningOff pointVague promise

At a glance

Lost points for
Personal attackThis statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “He may have heard of the Strait of Hormuz”.
AnsweredOf this answer, 94% addressed the question that was asked.
Echo ×33“We are going to build Canada strong.” Said 33 times by 14 members.Every time it was said

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 49

7 of 12 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.

A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “I know it is Tuesday,”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Members do not need to take it from us.”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 “On this side of the House, we are happy to do our part.”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 “We heard from Canadians, who said, “Give us a break.”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 “Help us at this time.””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 “We are happy to do our part.”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 “We are going to build Canada strong.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 91

2 of 12 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 “but let me help the Leader of the Opposition.”A jocular offer of help to the questioner, not an answer to the question on 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 “We are going to build Canada strong.”A general slogan of the government’s own program, not an answer to the question on gas taxes.

Respect · 88

2 of 12 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.

Mocking a person instead of answering their argument.What the tags mean “let me help the Leader of the Opposition”The sarcastic offer of help mocks the member’s own understanding rather than his position or record.
Mocking a person instead of answering their argument.What the tags mean “He may have heard of the Strait of Hormuz”The mock-doubtful phrasing ridicules the member as ignorant of a basic fact.

Clarity · 91

1 of 12 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 build Canada strong”A commitment with no actor, measure, date or success condition attached.

Echo · 1 repeated line

Words members of Parliament keep repeating, found by the same rule for every member. No score depends on it.

“We are going to build Canada strong.”Said 33 times by 14 members.Every time it was said

Claims · 2

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 head of the International Energy Agency, who says that this is the biggest shock we have seen in energy”The head of the International Energy Agency said the current situation is the biggest energy shock we have seen.search
2“suspended the federal excise tax on gas”Canada’s federal government has suspended the federal excise tax on gas.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20