Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal on Business of Supply 2026-05-26

189 words · 11 sentences · 14 clauses

Replying to Kelly McCauley (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, Tolstoy said, “Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.” Let us wash away everything that is not gold from the member’s speech and look at the truth. Well, that is right, we washed away, and there is nothing. We have sat and listened to a master class of 20 minutes of disinformation from the Liberal government. I will be upfront here. We tease back and forth with the member for Winnipeg North all the time, and I quite enjoy jousting with him, quite good-naturedly. However, I have to say I am disappointed by some of his terms in accusing us of being far right. I will comment on a few of his claims. The member goes on at length about the school food program for 400,000 children. However, there are 5.4 million children who are not covered by it. On the grocery rebate, when we actually include two working parents at minimum wage, they do not qualify. The government spent years claiming that the carbon tax was not inflationary. Why does the member now, after so many times saying the gas tax was not inflationary—”

Statement grade

B–

72 / 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.

Positioning 20%Claims 28%The ask 53%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 10 wordsmy friend opposite has to stop drinking the right-wing Kool-Aid.Positioning Claims · 52 wordsI can assure people who are listening that everything I have said is factual and that I can support it.Unearned certainty The issue with the national food program, as the member said, is that it is targeted at young children and not at every child who goes to school.¹ I will concede that, Positioning · 27 wordsbut the Conservative Party does not even recognize the value of it or of any other program that is there to support Canadians on the affordability front.Positioning The ask · 100 wordsI am still waiting for Conservatives to stand up and say, “You know what? The groceries and essentials benefit program is good for Canadians.² It will help in terms of the issue of affordability.” Just one Conservative should stand up. It might be a little offside with the leader of the Conservative Party, but they can stand up and recognize it as a program that is going to help their constituents on the issue of affordability. It is not much to ask for. Hopefully there is one Conservative who will recognize a good program when it hits them in face.Partly on point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 73

2 of 17 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 “my friend opposite has to stop drinking the right-wing Kool-Aid.”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 “but the Conservative Party does not even recognize the value of it or of any other program that is there to support Canadians on the affordability front.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 42

14 of 17 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 point put to the member, and the motion under debate.

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 “my friend opposite has to stop drinking the right-wing Kool-Aid.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “I can assure people who are listening that everything I have said is factual and that I can support it.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 issue with the national food program,”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 the member said, is that it is targeted at young children and not at every child who goes to school.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “I will concede that,”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 the Conservative Party does not even recognize the value of it or of any other program that is there to support Canadians on the affordability front.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “I am still waiting for Conservatives to stand up and say, “You know what?”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 groceries and essentials benefit program is good for Canadians.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 will help in terms of the issue of affordability.””On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “Just one Conservative should stand up.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 might be a little offside with the leader of the Conservative Party,”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 they can stand up and recognize it as a program that is going to help their constituents on the issue of affordability.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 not much to ask for.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “Hopefully there is one Conservative who will recognize a good program when it hits them in face.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.

Respect · 100

0 of 17 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 · 84

1 of 17 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.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “I can assure”Assurance is offered in place of any source for the claimed factuality.

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“it is targeted at young children and not at every child who goes to school”Canada’s national school food program is targeted at young children and not at every child who goes to school.search
2“The groceries and essentials benefit program is good for Canadians.”Canada has a groceries and essentials benefit program.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20