Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on The Economy 2026-06-05

120 words · 8 sentences · 10 clauses

Replying to Todd Doherty (Conservative)

“Madam Speaker, as a British Columbian, the member knows that more British Columbians are out of work because of the Liberal government. The Parliamentary Budget Officer is sounding the alarm, saying businesses are postponing expansion plans and investing elsewhere. Under the Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country to fall into a recession and Canadians are paying the price. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. I will give the Prime Minister one more chance. If he is the economic genius he says he is, will he stand and tell us whether we are in a technical recession or a recession?”

Statement grade

B–

Average 73 / 100

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

Positioning 42%Claims 55%Procedure 3%

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

Madam Speaker, Positioning · 34 wordsI think we can conclude at this point in question period on Friday that the Conservatives did not skip into the House with their usual glee. Why is that? It is because they know.Positioning Claims · 12 wordsThey know that the Canadian economy is proving to be very resilient. Positioning · 16 wordsThe hero of the day is the Canadian worker, the Canadian workers in manufacturing and construction.PositioningPartly on point Procedure · 4 wordsJust for the naysayers, ProcedureClaims · 54 wordsand it bears repeating, it is very important for Canadians to know that we have added almost twice, that is double, the jobs per capita of the United States of America since December 2024, which is 5.4 per thousand versus 2.5 per thousand.¹ We are outperforming the United States. We are outperforming the G7.Partly on 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 · 48

5 of 14 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 think we can conclude at this point in question period on Friday that the Conservatives did not skip into the House with their usual glee.”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 “Why is that?”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 because they know.”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 “The hero of the day is the Canadian worker, the Canadian workers in manufacturing and construction.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Just for the naysayers,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 44

9 of 14 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 “I think we can conclude at this point in question period on Friday that the Conservatives did not skip into the House with their usual glee.”A jab about the Conservatives’ demeanour, not an answer on whether Canada is in a recession.
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 “Why is that?”A rhetorical lead-in about the Conservatives, not about the recession question.
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 because they know.”About what the Conservatives allegedly know, not the state of the economy 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 “They know that the Canadian economy is proving to be very resilient.”About the economy’s resilience generally, but does not say whether Canada is in a recession.
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 “The hero of the day is the Canadian worker, the Canadian workers in manufacturing and construction.”Praise of Canadian workers, not an answer to the recession question.
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 it bears repeating, it is very important for Canadians to know that we have added almost twice, that is double, the jobs per capita of the United States of America since December 2024,”About job growth figures compared with the United States, not whether Canada is in a recession.
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 “which is 5.4 per thousand versus 2.5 per thousand.”Supporting job-growth statistics, not an answer on the recession question.
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 “We are outperforming the United States.”A general performance claim against the United States, not a direct answer to what was 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 “We are outperforming the G7.”About outperforming the G7 generally, not whether Canada is in a recession.

Respect · 100

0 of 14 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 14 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 · 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“5.4 per thousand versus 2.5 per thousand”Since December 2024, Canada has added 5.4 jobs per thousand per capita compared to the United States’ 2.5 jobs per thousand per capita.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20