Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on The Economy 2026-06-04

87 words · 8 sentences · 11 clauses

Replying to John Brassard (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, the only things they build are debt, deficit and a Liberal Prime Minister who has made Canada the only G20 country in a recession. While Canadians are told to make sacrifices, do members know who is not making sacrifices? It is the Prime Minister, as well as his well-connected Liberal insiders. Recently released documents show $200,000 spent on food for just three flights, including $18,000 for salmon for just one flight alone. That is more than the average family will spend in groceries in 2026. As seniors line up at food banks and families pay the price, will the Prime Minister finally tell us whether we are actually in a technical recession or a recession?”

Statement grade

30 / 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.

Procedure 6%Claims 53%Promise 11%Positioning 30%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 5 wordswe have some news here.Procedure Claims · 7 wordsWe looked up leader expenditures for 2024, Promise · 10 wordsand I will be very interested to look at 2025, Positioning · 7 wordsbecause we all know what happened there.PositioningUnearned certainty Claims · 30 wordsWe had a summer sojourn at Stornoway that was a little iffy. However, in 2024, Mr. Leader of the Opposition spent $8.8 million in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, ¹Positioning · 10 wordsand he does not have to make one single decision.Positioning Claims · 9 wordsThe Liberal leader spent $4.1 million.² That is double.³ Positioning · 9 wordsThat is bad. They have some answering to do.PositioningOff point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 58

5 of 16 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 “we have some news here.”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 “because we all know what happened there.”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 “and he does not have to make one single decision.”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 “That is bad.”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 “They have some answering to do.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 0

10 of 16 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 “We looked up leader expenditures for 2024,”About looking up leader office expenditures, not the recession 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 “and I will be very interested to look at 2025,”About future expenditure records, not the recession 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 “because we all know what happened there.”An aside about 2025 events, not the recession 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 “We had a summer sojourn at Stornoway that was a little iffy.”About stays at Stornoway, not the recession 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 “However, in 2024, Mr. Leader of the Opposition spent $8.8 million in the Leader of the Opposition’s office,”Cites the Leader of the Opposition’s office spending, not the recession 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 “and he does not have to make one single decision.”About the Leader of the Opposition’s decision-making, not the recession 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 “The Liberal leader spent $4.1 million.”Cites the Liberal leader’s spending figure, not the recession 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 “That is double.”Compares the two spending figures, not the recession 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 “That is bad.”A comment on the spending comparison, not the recession 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 “They have some answering to do.”Demands answers from the opposition on spending, not the recession question asked.

Respect · 100

0 of 16 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 · 89

1 of 16 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.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “we all know what happened there”The phrase asserts shared knowledge as its own support instead of stating what happened.

Claims · 3

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“in 2024, Mr. Leader of the Opposition spent $8.8 million in the Leader of the Opposition’s office”The Leader of the Opposition’s office spent $8.8 million in 2024.search
2“The Liberal leader spent $4.1 million”The Liberal leader (the Prime Minister’s office) spent $4.1 million in 2024.search
3“That is double”The Leader of the Opposition’s office spending of $8.8 million in 2024 was double the Liberal leader’s spending of $4.1 million.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20