Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on The Economy 2026-05-07

81 words · 6 sentences · 9 clauses

Replying to Carol Anstey (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, after too many years of this costly Liberal government, Canadians are broke. They are lining up at food banks, and our streets are more dangerous than ever, yet the Liberal government has spent over $742 million on a failed gun grab. While in Newfoundland and Labrador, hard-working Canadians are choosing between gas for their trucks and heat for their homes, the Prime Minister is wasting nearly $25,000 per gun to target law-abiding hunters. It is more cost, more corruption and more Liberal waste. When will the Liberal Prime Minister cut the waste and cut the gas taxes so that Canadians can afford to live?”

Statement grade

D+

53 / 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 27%Procedure 48%The question 17%Positioning 7%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 10 wordsof course, we have cut the gas tax by 28¢, ¹Procedure · 39 wordsbut the member from Newfoundland and Labrador gets up, and maybe we will ask her, because we have not really had success of late getting that list of things that they consider to be inflationary spending on the table.Procedure Claims · 12 wordsWe have no idea what the Conservatives consider to be inflationary spending. The question · 14 wordsIs it the child benefit? Is it employment insurance? Is it small craft harbours? Positioning · 6 wordsNewfoundlanders and Labradorians want to know.PositioningOff 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 · 40

4 of 9 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 “but the member from Newfoundland and Labrador gets up,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “and maybe we will ask her,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “because we have not really had success of late getting that list of things that they consider to be inflationary spending on the table.”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 “Newfoundlanders and Labradorians want to know.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 23

5 of 9 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 “We have no idea what the Conservatives consider to be inflationary spending.”About not knowing the Conservatives’ list, not the cuts 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 “Is it the child benefit?”Rhetorical listing of possible cuts, not an answer on gas taxes or waste.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Is it employment insurance?”Continues the list of possible items, 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 “Is it small craft harbours?”Continues the list of possible items, 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 “Newfoundlanders and Labradorians want to know.”A rhetorical flourish aimed at the member’s constituents, not the gas tax or waste cuts asked for.

Respect · 100

0 of 9 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 9 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 · 1

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 have cut the gas tax by 28¢”Canada’s federal gas tax (carbon price on gasoline) has been cut by 28 cents per litre.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20