Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Heath MacDonald

Liberal on The Economy 2026-06-04

91 words · 5 sentences · 10 clauses

Replying to Dave Epp (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, our “missing middle” processors have been missing. Finally, we are seeing some action, but Canada’s productivity crisis did not start this year. Weak investment did not start this year. Declining competitiveness did not start this year. These are the consequences of a decade of bad Liberal policy choices. As Sylvain Charlebois recently stated: “The greatest threat to Canada’s food economy isn’t a recession. It’s the illusion that someone else is responsible for our economic decline.” Does the Liberal Prime Minister plan to reverse these declines or just have a new definition of a recession?”

Statement grade

B–

71 / 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 15%Claims 76%Positioning 9%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 14 wordsthat gives me the opportunity to talk a little bit about foreign direct investment.Procedure Claims · 69 wordsAgain, these executives are confident in Canada. Imperial Oil is investing $700 million in Strathcona; ¹Kraft Heinz is investing $250 million in Montreal; ²Bayer is investing $45 million in canola research in Winnipeg; ³Froneri, an ice cream giant, is expanding Canadian operations; Mars Canada is investing $180 million across Ontario; ⁴and Coca-Cola is investing $141 million in a Brampton facility.⁵ They have confidence in this country and our workers.Partly on point Positioning · 8 wordsWhy is it that the Conservatives do not?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 · 70

2 of 11 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 “that gives me the opportunity to talk a little bit about foreign direct investment.”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 “Why is it that the Conservatives do not?”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 41

9 of 11 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.

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 “Again, these executives are confident in Canada.”It speaks to business confidence in Canada generally, not the declines the question 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 “Imperial Oil is investing $700 million in Strathcona;”It cites one investment figure without addressing the question about reversing the declines.
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 “Kraft Heinz is investing $250 million in Montreal;”It cites one investment figure without addressing the question about reversing the declines.
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 “Bayer is investing $45 million in canola research in Winnipeg;”It cites one investment figure without addressing the question about reversing the declines.
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 “Froneri, an ice cream giant, is expanding Canadian operations;”It cites an expansion without addressing the question about reversing the declines.
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 “Mars Canada is investing $180 million across Ontario;”It cites one investment figure without addressing the question about reversing the declines.
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 Coca-Cola is investing $141 million in a Brampton facility.”It cites one investment figure without addressing the question about reversing the declines.
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 “They have confidence in this country and our workers.”It speaks to confidence in Canada’s workers generally, not the declines the question 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 “Why is it that the Conservatives do not?”It attacks the Conservatives rather than addressing the declines asked about.

Respect · 100

0 of 11 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 · 100

0 of 11 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.

Nothing lost points.

Claims · 5

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“Imperial Oil is investing $700 million in Strathcona”Imperial Oil is investing $700 million in a facility in Strathcona.search
2“Kraft Heinz is investing $250 million in Montreal”Kraft Heinz is investing $250 million in Montreal.search
3“Bayer is investing $45 million in canola research in Winnipeg”Bayer is investing $45 million in canola research in Winnipeg.search
4“Mars Canada is investing $180 million across Ontario”Mars Canada is investing $180 million across Ontario.search
5“Coca-Cola is investing $141 million in a Brampton facility”Coca-Cola is investing $141 million in a facility in Brampton.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20