Analysis · Debate reply · beta

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal on Business of Supply 2026-05-26

62 words · 3 sentences · 4 clauses

Replying to Melissa Lantsman (Conservative)

“Mr. Chair, I will answer the question for the minister, since he does not want to. The answer is 45%, nearly half. Can the minister explain to Canadians, as the finance minister, what a merger and acquisition actually means in that context? It does not mean a new factory. People at home will know that. It does not mean a new research centre, and it does not mean a new job. What does it mean?”

Statement grade

B–

Average 72 / 100

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

Positioning 26%Claims 48%Promise 26%

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

Mr. Chair, Positioning · 12 wordsI am trying to understand the line of questioning of my colleague.Positioning Claims · 30 wordsI think she should be celebrating the fact that Canada received record levels of foreign direct investment in 2025 and that we are leading the G7 on per capita FDI.¹² Positioning · 4 wordsIt is good news, PositioningPromise · 16 wordsand we are going to continue to work with colleagues to attract investment in this country.Partly on pointVague promise

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 · 71

2 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “I am trying to understand the line of questioning of my colleague.”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 “It is good news,”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 47

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 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 “I am trying to understand the line of questioning of my colleague.”About the member’s line of questioning, not what the question asked the minister to explain.
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 think she should be celebrating the fact that Canada received record levels of foreign direct investment in 2025 and that we are leading the G7 on per capita FDI.”About overall foreign direct investment levels, not the meaning of the mergers and acquisitions share asked about.
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 good news,”A general comment on investment news, not an answer to what mergers and acquisitions mean.
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 are going to continue to work with colleagues to attract investment in this country.”About future efforts to attract investment, not the meaning of the M&A figure raised.

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 · 71

1 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.

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we are going to continue to work with colleagues to attract investment”A commitment with no date, measure, or success condition beyond continuing to work.

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“record levels of foreign direct investment in 2025”Canada received record levels of foreign direct investment in 2025.search
2“we are leading the G7 on per capita FDI”Canada leads the G7 in foreign direct investment inflows on a per capita basis.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20