Analysis · Debate reply · beta

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal on Business of Supply 2026-05-26

422 words · 24 sentences · 32 clauses

Replying to Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal)

“Madam Chair, I appreciate many of the words the Minister of Finance has put on the record this evening. I want to pick up on a couple of points. As a government and as the Minister of Finance, we have seen action on two fronts. One is in terms of building Canada strong, a Canada that is there for all Canadians, and there are many examples, some of which the Minister of Finance has referenced. The other issue is, of course, taking a look at the issue of affordability. We all know that affordability is a very important issue for Canadians. Again, what we have seen through the Department of Finance is some very specific action to support Canadians on the issue of affordability. I would like to expand very quickly on those two points. When I think of the affordability issue, I think of the groceries and essentials benefit. It is an excellent example. In the month of June, there is going to be substantial payments going to, I believe, somewhere around 11 million Canadians. I think that will help on the affordability issue. Also, there has been a great deal of discussion, and the government has come forward on the excise tax on gasoline with what is about a 10¢-a-litre break for Canadians. The minister made reference to the summer months. We are going to see a lot of Canadians staying in Canada, touring and taking a look at the different regions of the country by vehicle. The 10¢ reduction is very helpful on the issue of affordability. As we provide affordability programs, and I should have also mentioned the national school nutritional program for 400,000 children, at the same time we are investing in building a stronger Canada by looking at the national sovereign wealth fund, which is something the minister has made reference to. It is a fund that is going to assist with billions of dollars of investment and growth. I am wondering if the minister can provide his perspective in terms of supporting Canadians on the affordability file alongside building that stronger Canada.”

Statement grade

A–

Average 88 / 100

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

Thanks 5%Claims 22%Reasoning 63%Positioning 4%Anecdote 5%Procedure 0%

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

Madam Chair, Thanks · 20 wordsI thank the member for providing a very good summary to the House of the affordability measures we have presented.Thanks Claims · 24 wordsIt is right to say that affordability is top of mind for the government. I would say it is top of mind for Canadians. Reasoning · 24 wordsThe three issues when we talk about affordability with people are the cost of housing, the cost of food and the cost of gas. Positioning · 13 wordsThe good news is that we have been acting on these three fronts.PositioningVague promise Reasoning · 50 wordsWe have made generational investments to provide more affordable housing in this country, because we know this is the first pillar of affordability. Finding a home that is secure and affordable is the first pillar for Canadians and their families, which is why we have put forward a generational investment. Claims · 12 wordsThis investment has been applauded by institutions like the International Monetary Fund.¹ Anecdote · 22 wordsI will tell members that when I was in Washington, they mentioned that only two countries of the G7 can do this.²Anecdote Claims · 5 wordsThey are Germany and Canada.³ Procedure · 1 wordsWhy?Procedure Reasoning · 81 wordsIt is because these are the two countries that have the fiscal capacity, they have a AAA credit rating and if they make the right choices, this will support growth and at the same time tackle affordability.⁴ Therefore, housing has been one of the key pillars. The second thing is groceries. We have seen the inflation when it comes to groceries. We understand that this is a real challenge for Canadians across the nation, which is why we did not wait. Claims · 24 wordsWe decided to act with the groceries and essentials benefit, which is going to help. My colleague said it would help 11 million people, ⁵Positioning · 5 wordsbut it is even more.Positioning Claims · 29 wordsThere are 12 million Canadians who are going to receive that boost.⁶ This is very important because it is a 50% boost this year, ⁷but it is also bridged. Reasoning · 112 wordsWe understand that we need to bonify the Canada groceries and essentials benefit so that Canadians will still have a bridge. We understand that when it comes to food inflation, not only do we need to do that but we also need to invest in structural things in order to grow more in Canada. That is why, on one end, we are helping people now, but we are also making structural investments so that we can grow more food in Canada and become more resilient.Vague promise At the same time, we are pushing for competition, Vague promisebecause competition in this sector and other sectors is the best way to provide better prices for Canadians.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 73

5 of 8 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.

Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I thank the member for providing a very good summary to the House of the affordability measures we have presented.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “The good news is that we have been acting on these three fronts.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I will tell members that when I was in Washington, they mentioned that only two countries of the G7 can do this.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Why?”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 “but it is even more.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 8 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.

Nothing lost points.

Respect · 100

0 of 8 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 · 79

3 of 8 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 have been acting on these three fronts”Asserts action without naming any measure, actor or result to check.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we are also making structural investments”Commits to investments without naming what they are or how success would be measured.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we are pushing for competition”Names no concrete step, date or measure behind the push for competition.

Claims · 7

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“This investment has been applauded by institutions like the International Monetary Fund”The International Monetary Fund has applauded the government’s generational investment in affordable housing.search
2“when I was in Washington, they mentioned that only two countries of the G7 can do this”During a visit to Washington, IMF officials told Champagne that only two G7 countries can make this kind of fiscal investment.search
3“They are Germany and Canada”The two G7 countries said to have the fiscal capacity for this investment are Germany and Canada.search
4“they have a AAA credit rating”Germany and Canada both have a AAA credit rating.search
5“My colleague said it would help 11 million people”Kevin Lamoureux said in the House that the groceries and essentials benefit would help around 11 million Canadians.search
6“There are 12 million Canadians who are going to receive that boost”12 million Canadians are expected to receive the groceries and essentials benefit.search
7“it is a 50% boost this year”The groceries and essentials benefit provides a 50% boost this year.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20