Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Heath MacDonald

Liberal on Agriculture and Agri-Food 2026-05-28

118 words · 10 sentences · 12 clauses

Replying to Jacques Gourde (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, agriculture is just a drop in the bucket for the Liberals, who are spending $6.6 billion on the Cúram program, $19 billion on consultants, and $100 billion on a high-speed train that will ruin entire farming communities in Quebec and Ontario. Saving $23 million a year by closing seven research centres in Canada is completely unacceptable. This decision is a direct attack on our country’s food security. It is not too late to fix this mistake. Why do the Liberals historically always let Canada’s agricultural communities down?”

Statement grade

B+

Average 83 / 100

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

Aside 16%Procedure 3%Promise 28%Claims 53%

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

Mr. Speaker, Aside · 19 wordsit is always said that politics is a bit of theatre, but that was pretty good, I must admit.Aside Procedure · 4 wordsLet me say this.Procedure Promise · 13 wordsWe are going to continue to build the agriculture community in this country.Vague promise Claims · 6 wordsWe know how important it is. Promise · 15 wordsThere are going to be good-news announcements coming up very shortly in reference to research.Vague promise Claims · 56 wordsWe are working extremely hard.Vague promise We are granting an exemption for the use of strychnine in Alberta and the Prairies.¹ We are moving to change the mandates of the CFIA and the PMRA.² We are adding pasture rentals to AgriStability, enhancements to the APP and new funding for AgriMarketing, ³⁴⁵and we are introducing the productivity superdeduction.⁶ Promise · 5 wordsWe are just getting started.

At a glance

Lost points for
AnsweredOf this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 74

3 of 6 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.

A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “it is always said that politics is a bit of theatre,”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “but that was pretty good, I must admit.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Let me say this.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 6 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.

Nothing lost points.

Respect · 100

0 of 6 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 · 59

3 of 6 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 build the agriculture community in this country”A commitment to build with no measure, date or success condition named.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “good-news announcements coming up very shortly”Promises future announcements with no date, content or measure specified.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “We are working extremely hard”Asserts ongoing effort with no measure or action named.

Claims · 6

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 are granting an exemption for the use of strychnine in Alberta and the Prairies”The government is granting an exemption for the use of strychnine in Alberta and the Prairies.search
2“moving to change the mandates of the CFIA and the PMRA”The government is moving to change the mandates of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.search
3“adding pasture rentals to AgriStability”Pasture rentals are being added to the AgriStability program.search
4“enhancements to the APP”The government is enhancing the Advance Payments Program (APP).search
5“new funding for AgriMarketing”The government is providing new funding for the AgriMarketing program.search
6“we are introducing the productivity superdeduction”The government is introducing the productivity superdeduction tax measure.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20