Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Mark Carney

Liberal on Taxation 2026-05-26

77 words · 8 sentences · 9 clauses

Replying to Pierre Poilievre (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, there was a world energy crisis, and wars in Syria, Iraq and Ukraine, but at the very moment that oil hit $100 a barrel all around the world, here in Canada it was only $1.38 at the pump. Those were the Harper days in 2014. Today, with oil prices being lower on a worldwide level, gas prices are over 40¢ a litre higher. Those are not world impacts; those are Liberal impacts. Will the Prime Minister reverse his policies of high Liberal taxes and a weak Canadian dollar, so Canadians can afford to fill up at the pump?”

Statement grade

B–

73 / 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.

Procedure 12%Claims 65%Aside 9%Positioning 14%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 9 wordssome things have changed since the Harper days, thankfully.Procedure Claims · 13 wordsOne of them is refinery margins, which are up by 40¢ in Canada.¹ Aside · 7 wordsForty cents, that is a curious number.Aside Claims · 37 wordsRefinery margins are up because of the loss of petrol. One other thing that has not changed is that the Leader of the Opposition is against child care.² He is against dental care.³ He is against pharmacare.⁴Off point Positioning · 11 wordsHe is against everything that supports Canadians in this affordability crisis.PositioningPartly on point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 60

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.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “some things have changed since the Harper days, thankfully.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “Forty cents, that is a curious number.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “He is against everything that supports Canadians in this affordability crisis.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 43

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 “One other thing that has not changed is that the Leader of the Opposition is against child care.”About the opposition leader’s stance on child care, not reversing policies on gas prices.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “He is against dental care.”About the opposition leader’s stance on dental care, not the gas price 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 “He is against pharmacare.”About the opposition leader’s stance on pharmacare, not the gas price question.
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 “He is against everything that supports Canadians in this affordability crisis.”A general attack on the opposition leader’s record on affordability, not the taxes and policies asked about for gas prices.

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 · 4

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“which are up by 40¢ in Canada.”Refinery margins in Canada have increased by 40 cents.search
2“the Leader of the Opposition is against child care”Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has opposed the federal child care programme, as shown by his votes or statements.search
3“He is against dental care”Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has opposed the federal dental care programme, as shown by his votes or statements.search
4“He is against pharmacare”Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has opposed the federal pharmacare programme, as shown by his votes or statements.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20