Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Mark Gerretsen

Liberal on Business of Supply 2026-05-26

125 words · 9 sentences · 12 clauses

Replying to Costas Menegakis (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, the member has been sitting here since 2015. He stands up in his speech touting the Right Hon. Justin Trudeau’s record as if it were an accomplishment. Here is where we are today. We have the highest housing prices in the history of our country, Canada is the worst country in the G7 for food affordability and gas prices are astronomically high, but he has the audacity to stand there and talk about the accomplishments of his party over the last 11 years. Why will he not stand up, show some leadership and vote for our common-sense motion to take all gas taxes off for all Canadians for the entire year to give some real relief to Canadians, Canadian businesses and Canadian families?”

Statement grade

C–

59 / 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 42%Claims 34%Procedure 17%Promise 7%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 24 wordsit would be a lot easier for me to take that question seriously if the member did not belong to a political party that, PositioningClaims · 13 wordsas I demonstrated in the example I just gave, handed checks to millionaires.¹ Positioning · 29 wordsNow I am supposed to suddenly expect its members to care about the affordability challenges many Canadians have. I am very proud of the work the government has done.PositioningOff point Procedure · 21 wordsCould we do things differently? Could we do things better? Is there always an opportunity to improve? Absolutely, there always is.Procedure Promise · 5 wordsI will always do that, Off pointVague promiseClaims · 29 wordsbut will I get up in the House and vote for this motion, which would benefit the ultrawealthy the most, the people who consume the most amount of fuel? Promise · 4 wordsNo, I will not.

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 · 36

7 of 13 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 “it would be a lot easier for me to take that question seriously if the member did not belong to a political party that,”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 “Now I am supposed to suddenly expect its members to care about the affordability challenges many Canadians have.”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 “I am very proud of the work the government has done.”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 “Could we do things differently?”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 “Could we do things better?”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 “Is there always an opportunity to improve?”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 “Absolutely, there always is.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 29

5 of 13 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.

Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “it would be a lot easier for me to take that question seriously if the member did not belong to a political party that,”An attack on the questioner’s party in place of an answer.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “as I demonstrated in the example I just gave, handed checks to millionaires.”Recounts the opposition party’s past record rather than the motion or the vote 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 “Now I am supposed to suddenly expect its members to care about the affordability challenges many Canadians have.”Continues the attack on the questioner’s party instead of addressing the motion.
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 am very proud of the work the government has done.”General praise of the government’s work, not tied to the motion or the question.
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 will always do that,”A personal reflection on his own approach, not about the motion or the vote.

Respect · 100

0 of 13 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 · 94

1 of 13 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 always do that”A commitment with no measure, date or success condition for what the improving consists of.

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“handed checks to millionaires”The Conservative Party handed cheques to millionaires.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20