Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Ali Ehsassi

Liberal on Adjournment Proceedings 2026-05-26

497 words · 27 sentences · 32 clauses

Replying to Grant Jackson (Conservative)

“Madam Speaker, this topic will not be a stranger to you. I think I was asking about it the last time you were in the chair. I had the privilege of asking a question of the minister responsible for food production. We have an affordability crisis. People are struggling to pay their bills, particularly at the grocery store and at the checkout. Here is what the Minister of Women and Gender Equality replied: Mr. Speaker, Canadians need real relief right now, and we are delivering. I have great news. The very first Canada groceries and essentials benefit is going to Canadians right across the country this June.... From grocery support to child care and dental care, we are there. Of course, members already heard today that we are lowering the cost at the pumps by 28¢ per litre. There is nothing in there about food production. I was asking about the need to produce more food in this country to bring down costs. More supply would mean lower costs for Canadian consumers at the grocery store. This is after I had asked a question of the agriculture minister, and one question was enough for him. His response to my question about what his department, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, is doing to increase food production in this country was this: Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that the hon. member disagrees with child care, dental care, the Canada child benefit, the national school food program, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, an increase in health transfers, the OAS, eliminating the carbon tax, a tax break for 22 million Canadians.... He then went on to say, “there is no more” and sat down as his own cabinet members were heckling him. Again, there was nothing about food production, so I would like to give the agriculture minister one more chance. Given that it is his responsibility as the minister responsible for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, could he please inform my constituents in western Manitoba, and all Canadians, what the government is doing to increase domestic food production so Canadians can have cheaper produce and goods at the grocery store?”

Statement grade

76 / 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 93%Procedure 3%Positioning 1%Promise 2%

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

Madam Speaker, Claims · 15 wordsaffordability is at the forefront of the government’s attention. That includes, of course, food affordability, Partly on pointProcedure · 9 wordsso I am very happy to provide a response.Procedure Claims · 63 wordsAs I suggested to the previous member, the global landscape is rapidly changing, leaving economies, businesses and workers under a cloud of uncertainty. In response, our new government has focused on what we can control, such as building a stronger economy to make life more affordable for Canadians. We understand that many Canadians are struggling to make ends meet and need immediate support. Positioning · 7 wordsWe can all definitely understand this situation.Positioning Claims · 37 wordsThis is why we launched the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, ¹which will provide support for more than 12 million Canadians.² This new benefit will replace the current GST credit, ³but it will be much more generous, Partly on pointProcedure · 8 wordsas I am sure the member can agree.Procedure Claims · 348 wordsThis will start with a one-time top-up next week on June 5.⁴ We will also increase the value of the GST credit by 25% for five years starting in July of this year.⁵ This will make a real difference for Canadians who are struggling to make ends meet. Combined, this means that a family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year and about $1,400 a year for the next four years.⁶ A single person will receive up to $950 this year and about $700 a year for the next four years.⁷ This new benefit will be indexed to inflation.⁸ This means that the amounts paid to Canadians will increase each year in line with the rising cost of living. We have also made the national school food program permanent.⁹ This will provide up to 400,000 children with meals at school each year, helping families save an average of $800 annually.¹⁰ These two measures represent real and immediate help. We are also working on solutions for the long term.Vague promise The government has announced a series of measures to help bring down costs for Canadians.Partly on point We have set aside $500 million from the strategic response fund to help businesses address the cost of supply chain disruptions.¹¹ We are creating a $150-million food security fund under the existing regional tariff response initiative for small and medium-sized enterprises.¹² Our plan also includes immediate expensing for greenhouse buildings to lower the cost of food production.¹³ In addition, we are providing $20 million to the local food infrastructure fund to support food banks and other national, regional and local organizations to deliver more nutritious food to families in need.¹⁴ We are also going to develop a national food security strategy that would strengthen domestic food production and improve access to affordable food, including measures to encourage unit price labelling and support for the work of the Competition Bureau.¹⁵ Our government remains focused on empowering Canadians by lowering costs, making groceries and other essentials more affordable and expanding opportunity. We have announced a series of new measures to help Canadians make ends meet, Promise · 10 wordsand we will continue to remain focused on affordability measures.Partly on pointVague promise

At a glance

Lost points for
Echo ×14“We have also made the national school food program permanent.” Said 14 times by 11 members.Every time it was said
Echo ×12“This means that a family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year and about $1,400 a year for the next four years.” Said 12 times by 9 members.Every time it was said
Echo ×9“Our government is focused on what we can control.” Said 9 times by 7 members.Every time it was said
Echo ×7“A single person will receive up to $950 this year and about $700 a year for the next four years.” Said 7 times by 5 members.Every time it was said

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 89

3 of 30 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 “so I am very happy to provide a response.”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 “We can all definitely understand this situation.”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 “as I am sure the member can agree.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 46

25 of 30 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 on notice, as the member's speech raises 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 “affordability is at the forefront of the government’s attention.”General focus on affordability, not what is being done to increase domestic food production.
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 includes, of course, food affordability,”Names food affordability as the topic but offers no measure on food production.
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 I suggested to the previous member, the global landscape is rapidly changing, leaving economies, businesses and workers under a cloud of uncertainty.”About global economic uncertainty, not domestic food production measures.
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 “In response, our new government has focused on what we can control, such as building a stronger economy to make life more affordable for Canadians.”Broad affordability framing without addressing food production.
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 “We understand that many Canadians are struggling to make ends meet and need immediate support.”About Canadians struggling with costs, not food production.
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 “We can all definitely understand this situation.”A general agreement about the situation, offering nothing on the 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 “This is why we launched the Canada groceries and essentials benefit,”About a groceries benefit for consumers, not measures to increase food production.
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 “which will provide support for more than 12 million Canadians.”Details of benefit coverage, not food production.
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 “This new benefit will replace the current GST credit,”About replacing the GST credit, not food production.
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 it will be much more generous,”About the benefit’s generosity, not food production.
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 “This will start with a one-time top-up next week on June 5.”Payment timing of the benefit, not food production.
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 “We will also increase the value of the GST credit by 25% for five years starting in July of this year.”About increasing the GST credit, not food production.
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 “This will make a real difference for Canadians who are struggling to make ends meet.”About relief for Canadians, not food production.
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 “Combined, this means that a family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year and about $1,400 a year for the next four years.”Benefit amounts for a family, not food production.
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 “A single person will receive up to $950 this year and about $700 a year for the next four years.”Benefit amounts for a single person, not food production.
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 “This new benefit will be indexed to inflation.”Indexing of the benefit, not food production.
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 “This means that the amounts paid to Canadians will increase each year in line with the rising cost of living.”How benefit payments rise with living costs, not food production.
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 “We have also made the national school food program permanent.”About a school meals program, not increasing domestic food production.
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 “This will provide up to 400,000 children with meals at school each year, helping families save an average of $800 annually.”Details of the school meals program, not food production.
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 “These two measures represent real and immediate help.”Summarizes the two consumer measures, not production measures.
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 “We are also working on solutions for the long term.”A transition promising long-term solutions without stating any yet.
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 government has announced a series of measures to help bring down costs for Canadians.”A general statement that measures were announced, not naming what they are.
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 “Our government remains focused on empowering Canadians by lowering costs, making groceries and other essentials more affordable and expanding opportunity.”A general statement of focus on affordability, not a specific production measure.
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 “We have announced a series of new measures to help Canadians make ends meet,”A general restatement that measures were announced, without addressing production.
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 “and we will continue to remain focused on affordability measures.”A general commitment to affordability, not what is being done on food production.

Respect · 100

0 of 30 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 · 90

2 of 30 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 “We are also working on solutions for the long term”A commitment to future work that names no measure, actor or success condition.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we will continue to remain focused on affordability measures”A pledge of continued focus with no concrete action, date or measure attached.

Echo · 4 repeated lines

Words members of Parliament keep repeating, found by the same rule for every member. No score depends on it.

“We have also made the national school food program permanent.”Said 14 times by 11 members.Every time it was said
“This means that a family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year and about $1,400 a year for the next four years.”Said 12 times by 9 members.Every time it was said
“Our government is focused on what we can control.”Said 9 times by 7 members.Every time it was said
“A single person will receive up to $950 this year and about $700 a year for the next four years.”Said 7 times by 5 members.Every time it was said

Claims · 15

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 launched the Canada groceries and essentials benefit”The government launched the Canada groceries and essentials benefit.search
2“support for more than 12 million Canadians”The Canada groceries and essentials benefit will provide support for more than 12 million Canadians.search
3“This new benefit will replace the current GST credit”The Canada groceries and essentials benefit will replace the current GST credit.search
4“a one-time top-up next week on June 5”A one-time top-up payment of the Canada groceries and essentials benefit will start on June 5, 2026.search
5“increase the value of the GST credit by 25% for five years starting in July of this year”The government will increase the value of the GST credit by 25% for five years starting in July 2026.search
6“a family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year and about $1,400 a year for the next four years”Under the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, a family of four will receive up to $1,890 in 2026 and about $1,400 a year for the next four years.search
7“A single person will receive up to $950 this year and about $700 a year for the next four years”Under the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, a single person will receive up to $950 in 2026 and about $700 a year for the next four years.search
8“This new benefit will be indexed to inflation”The Canada groceries and essentials benefit will be indexed to inflation.search
9“We have also made the national school food program permanent”The government has made the national school food program permanent.search
10“up to 400,000 children with meals at school each year, helping families save an average of $800 annually”The national school food program will provide up to 400,000 children with meals at school each year, helping families save an average of $800 annually.search
11“$500 million from the strategic response fund”The government has set aside $500 million from the strategic response fund to help businesses address the cost of supply chain disruptions.search
12“a $150-million food security fund”The government is creating a $150-million food security fund under the regional tariff response initiative for small and medium-sized enterprises.search
13“immediate expensing for greenhouse buildings”The government’s plan includes immediate expensing for greenhouse buildings to lower the cost of food production.search
14“$20 million to the local food infrastructure fund”The government is providing $20 million to the local food infrastructure fund to support food banks and other organizations.search
15“develop a national food security strategy”The government is going to develop a national food security strategy to strengthen domestic food production and improve access to affordable food.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20