Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Ryan Turnbull

Liberal on Business of Supply 2026-06-08

117 words · 8 sentences · 9 clauses

Replying to Bob Zimmer (Conservative)

“Madam Speaker, I just want to bring up to the member across the way that his government has been in power for the last 11 years, and the Northwest Territories should be one of the powerful cylinders in our economic engine, but it is seriously misfiring. The Northwest Territories was in a recession in six of the years since the Liberals formed government: 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2025, after job-killing Liberal policies were enacted by the previous prime minister and the current Prime Minister. The current Prime Minister does not seem to be wanting to fix it either. He just turned 30% of the Northwest Territories into a park. My question for the member is this: Is the Northwest Territories in recession, yes or no?”

Statement grade

B–

70 / 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.

Claims 71%Positioning 29%

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

Madam Speaker, Claims · 12 wordswe have heard from the banks, the C.D. Howe Institute and Desjardins.Partly on point Positioning · 34 wordsThe Conservatives seem to love to talk down the Canadian economy and Canadian workers, Off pointand to jump prematurely into a narrative that they then, by the end of the week, find out is untrue.Positioning Claims · 71 wordsHowever, the Bank of Montreal has said that the solid May jobs report “should silence the recession crowd”.³ RBC has said there are still signs that labour markets are broadly improving.¹ The C.D. Howe Institute says the latest job figures show that it is too soon to use that label based solely on a pair of small quarterly contractions in the economy.² Desjardins says, “according to our analysis, the Canadian economy”—Partly on point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 65

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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “The Conservatives seem to love to talk down the Canadian economy and Canadian workers,”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 to jump prematurely into a narrative that they then, by the end of the week, find out is untrue.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 40

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 point put to the member, and the motion under debate.

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 have heard from the banks, the C.D.”Introduces outside sources on the national economy without addressing whether the Northwest Territories is in 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 “Howe Institute and Desjardins.”Completes the list of sources cited on the national economy, not the question about the Northwest Territories.
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 Conservatives seem to love to talk down the Canadian economy and Canadian workers,”Accuses the Conservatives of talking down the economy instead of answering 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 “and to jump prematurely into a narrative that they then, by the end of the week, find out is untrue.”Criticizes the Conservatives’ economic narrative without saying whether the Northwest Territories is in 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 “However, the Bank of Montreal has said that the solid May jobs report “should silence the recession crowd”.”Quotes the Bank of Montreal against a national recession label, not about the Northwest Territories.
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 “RBC has said there are still signs that labour markets are broadly improving.”Cites RBC on the national labour market, not on whether the Northwest Territories is in 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 C.D.”Names the C.D. Howe Institute as a source on the national economy, not 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 “Howe Institute says the latest job figures show that it is too soon to use that label based solely on a pair of small quarterly contractions in the economy.”Quotes the C.D. Howe Institute against a national recession label, not about the Northwest Territories.
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 “Desjardins says, “according to our analysis, the Canadian economy”—”Begins a quote from Desjardins on the national economy, not the question about the Northwest Territories.

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 · 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“there are still signs that labour markets are broadly improving”RBC said there are still signs that labour markets are broadly improving.search
2“it is too soon to use that label based solely on a pair of small quarterly contractions in the economy”The Howe Institute says that it is too soon to use that label based solely on a pair of small quarterly contractions in the economy.search
3“should silence the recession crowd”The Bank of Montreal said that the solid May jobs report should silence the recession crowd.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20