Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Small Business 2026-05-06

74 words · 7 sentences · 7 clauses

Replying to Christine Normandin (Bloc Québécois)

“Mr. Speaker, a month ago today, Donald Trump made utterly indefensible changes to his tariffs. Desjardins has shown that Quebeckers are the ones paying the price. Quebec is being hit twice as hard as the rest of the country. A quarter of our manufactured goods are now affected. The employers of 170,000 Quebeckers have been targeted since April 6. That is why Quebeckers need a wage subsidy, to protect jobs and offer businesses some relief. We have been asking for this for a month now. When is the government going to take action?”

Statement grade

A–

Average 86 / 100

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

Claims 85%Procedure 7%Positioning 8%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 23 wordswe just announced one-time assistance.¹ It consists of cashflow support for manufacturers and SMEs affected by the U.S. administration’s unfair and unjustified tariffs.² Procedure · 5 wordsToday, we have good news.Procedure Claims · 33 wordsAs I just mentioned, the Prime Minister is in Mirabel right now to announce the largest aircraft order in Canadian history.³⁴ The aircraft is one designed and built here in Canada by Canadians.⁵ Positioning · 6 wordsWe are extremely proud of that.Positioning Claims · 7 wordsThat is going to help Quebec’s economy.Partly on point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 81

2 of 6 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 “Today, we have good news.”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 “We are extremely proud of that.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 62

4 of 6 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 “As I just mentioned, the Prime Minister is in Mirabel right now to announce the largest aircraft order in Canadian history.”About an aircraft purchase announcement, not the tariff relief or wage subsidy 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 “The aircraft is one designed and built here in Canada by Canadians.”About where the aircraft is built, not the tariff relief 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 extremely proud of that.”Pride in the aircraft announcement, not the tariff relief 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 going to help Quebec’s economy.”About the aircraft order’s benefit to Quebec’s economy, not the wage subsidy asked about.

Respect · 100

0 of 6 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 6 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.

Claims · 5

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“we just announced one-time assistance”The Canadian government recently announced one-time assistance for businesses affected by U.S. tariffs.search
2“cashflow support for manufacturers and SMEs affected by the U.S. administration’s unfair and unjustified tariffs”The announced one-time assistance consists of cashflow support for manufacturers and SMEs affected by U.S. tariffs.search
3“the Prime Minister is in Mirabel right now to announce the largest aircraft order in Canadian history”On May 6, 2026, the Prime Minister was in Mirabel to announce the largest aircraft order in Canadian history.search
4“the largest aircraft order in Canadian history”The aircraft order announced on May 6, 2026 is the largest aircraft order in Canadian history.search
5“designed and built here in Canada by Canadians”The aircraft in the announced order is designed and built in Canada.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20