Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Rail Transportation 2026-05-29

77 words · 5 sentences · 5 clauses

Replying to Michael Barrett (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, in a September letter to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance said that he would be in a conflict of interest if he participated in discussions, decisions, debates or votes related to Alto. We now know he went on to do those things anyway. What we have learned this week is that the minister’s department hired an executive from Alto to write his budget speech and budget presentation. Why?”

Statement grade

C–

Average 58 / 100

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

Claims 49%Positioning 51%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 13 wordsAlto is a nation-transforming project. We are pleased and proud to support it. Positioning · 39 wordsConservatives should be ashamed of their opposition to this nation-building project.Positioning With respect to how the conduct of the finance minister and the government is going, I will respond to my friend, the Death Valley well driller over there.Off pointMockery Claims · 25 wordsThe minister has put in place a rigid and approved set of measures from the Commissioner of Ethics and he will always act with integrity.¹Vague promise

At a glance

Lost points for
Personal attackThis statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “my friend, the Death Valley well driller over there”.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 82

1 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 “Conservatives should be ashamed of their opposition to this nation-building project.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 30

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 “Alto is a nation-transforming project.”Praise of the Alto project itself, not the hiring asked about.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “We are pleased and proud to support it.”Praise of the government’s support for Alto, not the hiring asked about.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Conservatives should be ashamed of their opposition to this nation-building project.”An attack on the Conservatives’ opposition, not the hiring asked about.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “With respect to how the conduct of the finance minister and the government is going, I will respond to my friend, the Death Valley well driller over there.”An insult directed at the questioner rather than anything on the hiring asked about.

Respect · 58

1 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.

Mocking a person instead of answering their argument.What the tags mean “my friend, the Death Valley well driller over there”A derisive nickname aimed at an identifiable member across the aisle ridicules the person rather than anything he said.

Clarity · 62

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 “he will always act with integrity”A commitment for the speaker’s side with no actor’s measure, date or way to verify compliance.

Claims · 1

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“The minister has put in place a rigid and approved set of measures from the Commissioner of Ethics”The finance minister has put in place a set of measures approved by the Ethics Commissioner regarding his conduct on Alto.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20