Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Small Business 2026-05-06

95 words · 5 sentences · 6 clauses

Replying to Christine Normandin (Bloc Québécois)

“Mr. Speaker, no one is going to refuse the support, but it is poorly targeted. To quote the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, “For businesses whose survival is currently in jeopardy, this is not enough.” When support measures leave the most vulnerable businesses behind, I would not call that a success. That is a failure. As Desjardins has shown, the businesses most at risk are disproportionately those in Quebec. Quebeckers are the ones at risk. When will a wage subsidy be introduced to protect them?”

Statement grade

C+

69 / 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.

Claims 44%Positioning 56%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 34 wordsa one-time boost of $1.5 billion is not insignificant.¹ It also comes on top of the one-time assistance we have provided to the forestry industry and other industries in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada.² Positioning · 53 wordsI would be remiss if I did not draw attention to the Bloc Québécois’s silence in response to the aircraft order.³ The first thing they should have done today was rise in the House and congratulate this government and Airbus on that order.Off point The second thing they should be doing is support Alto, PositioningClaims · 8 wordswhich will help industries and SMEs across Quebec.Partly on point

At a glance

Lost points for
Little substanceMuch of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 39

3 of 7 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 would be remiss if I did not draw attention to the Bloc Québécois’s silence in response to the aircraft order.”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 “The first thing they should have done today was rise in the House and congratulate this government and Airbus on that order.”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 “The second thing they should be doing is support Alto,”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 40

4 of 7 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 “I would be remiss if I did not draw attention to the Bloc Québécois’s silence in response to the aircraft order.”About the Bloc’s silence on the aircraft order, not the wage subsidy asked for.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “The first thing they should have done today was rise in the House and congratulate this government and Airbus on that order.”A demand that the Bloc congratulate the government, not an answer on the subsidy.
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 second thing they should be doing is support Alto,”Praises Alto as support for Quebec, but does not address the 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 “which will help industries and SMEs across Quebec.”Describes Alto’s benefits for Quebec industries, not the wage subsidy asked for.

Respect · 100

0 of 7 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 7 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 · 3

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“a one-time boost of $1.5 billion”The federal government announced one-time support of $1.5 billion for manufacturers and SMEs affected by U.S. tariffs.search
2“the one-time assistance we have provided to the forestry industry”The federal government has provided one-time assistance to the forestry industry, in addition to the May 2026 support for manufacturers and SMEs.search
3“the aircraft order”On May 6, 2026, the Prime Minister announced in Mirabel an aircraft order that the government calls the largest in Canadian history.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20