Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Nathalie Provost

Liberal on Finance 2026-05-07

88 words · 9 sentences · 10 clauses

Replying to Richard Martel (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, it is an important question. If the Liberals truly want to help families and seniors, then they should start by closing the open bar in Ottawa. The Prime Minister is being irresponsible with Canadians’ money. The interest on the Liberal debt will cost more than $53 billion this year. That is money that is not going to seniors, that is not helping families and that is not going to the public service. While Canadians have to trim their budgets just to get by, why is the Prime Minister refusing to cut back on bureaucracy and unnecessary spending?”

Statement grade

Average 76 / 100

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

Procedure 28%Claims 65%Positioning 7%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 16 wordsin that case, I will continue to talk about what is not an illusion for Canadians.ProcedureVague promise Claims · 9 wordsThe child benefit provides $8,000 per child per year.¹ Positioning · 6 wordsIt is important. It is useful.Positioning Claims · 13 wordsCanadians are seeing the results, because we are going through a tough time.Partly on point Procedure · 5 wordsI just talked about groceries.Procedure Claims · 14 wordsWith the Canadian dental care plan, nearly 18,500 people are saving $800 a year.²Partly on point Procedure · 4 wordsThat is the reality.ProcedureUnearned certainty Claims · 21 wordsThat does not even include everything we are doing with major projects because we have to invest for the long term.Partly on point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 59

5 of 14 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 “in that case, I will continue to talk about what is not an illusion for Canadians.”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 “It is important.”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 “It is useful.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I just talked about groceries.”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 “That is the reality.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 46

7 of 14 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 “The child benefit provides $8,000 per child per year.”About the child benefit amount, not about cutting bureaucracy or spending.
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 “It is important.”A general remark on the benefit’s importance, not an answer on spending cuts.
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 “It is useful.”A general remark on the benefit’s usefulness, not an answer on spending cuts.
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 “Canadians are seeing the results,”About Canadians seeing results of programs, not about the refusal to cut spending.
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 “because we are going through a tough time.”A remark on tough economic times, not on bureaucracy or spending cuts.
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 “With the Canadian dental care plan, nearly 18,500 people are saving $800 a year.”About dental plan savings figures, not about cutting bureaucracy or spending.
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 does not even include everything we are doing with major projects because we have to invest for the long term.”About long-term investment in major projects, not about reducing bureaucracy or spending.

Respect · 100

0 of 14 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

2 of 14 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 “I will continue to talk about what is not an illusion”The commitment is only to keep talking, with no measure, date or condition attached.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “That is the reality”The phrase asserts certainty by formula rather than citing a source for the figures just given.

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 child benefit provides $8,000 per child per year”The Canada child benefit provides $8,000 per child per year.search
2“nearly 18,500 people are saving $800 a year”Nearly 18,500 people are saving $800 a year under the Canadian dental care plan.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20