Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Mark Gerretsen

Liberal on Business of Supply 2026-06-08

127 words · 5 sentences · 8 clauses

Replying to Sherry Romanado (Liberal)

“Mr. Speaker, I do not know if my colleague has been hearing the same thing I have been hearing in my riding. I hear people saying they understand that Canada is facing a lot of challenges with respect to geopolitics, with respect to trade and so forth. They want Canadians to stick together and to work together for the benefit of all Canadians. The member alluded to how this debate today has been about almost celebrating Canada’s difficulties in terms of the economy. Can the member let us know if he is hearing the same thing from constituents that I am with respect to working together for the benefit of Canadians?”

Statement grade

39 / 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.

Reasoning 51%Positioning 17%Claims 26%Aside 6%

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

Mr. Speaker, Reasoning · 23 wordsI think using the word “celebrating” would be going a little too far, but I know where the member is going with this.Partly on point Positioning · 14 wordsWhat I was trying to say is that what Conservatives do is get excited.Positioning Claims · 33 wordsI can almost guarantee members that a week ago, on May 31, when those numbers came out and Canada had a negative 0.04% growth rate, they got excited because they saw an opportunity, ¹Positioning · 8 wordsand this is what they have been doing.Positioning Reasoning · 42 wordsAll I was trying to say when I got up in the House and gave this speech was that doing that is not going to put them in a position to form government. The sooner they learn that, the better for them, Aside · 7 wordsbut the worse for us, I guess.AsideOff 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 · 71

3 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 “What I was trying to say is that what Conservatives do is get excited.”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 this is what they have been doing.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “but the worse for us, I guess.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 9

8 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 “I think using the word “celebrating” would be going a little too far,”Disputes the word ‘celebrating’ from the earlier speech, but does not address what constituents are saying.
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 “but I know where the member is going with this.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “What I was trying to say is that what Conservatives do is get excited.”About Conservative behaviour, not what constituents are saying about working together.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “I can almost guarantee members that a week ago, on May 31, when those numbers came out and Canada had a negative 0.04% growth rate, they got excited because they saw an opportunity,”About Conservatives’ reaction to May’s growth numbers, not the constituents question.
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 this is what they have been doing.”About Conservative conduct, not what constituents are saying.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “All I was trying to say when I got up in the House and gave this speech was that doing that is not going to put them in a position to form government.”About Conservatives’ chances of forming government, not the constituents question.
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 sooner they learn that, the better for them,”Advice to Conservatives, not about what constituents are saying.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “but the worse for us, I guess.”A joking aside about the member’s own side, not about the constituents question.

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 · 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“a week ago, on May 31, when those numbers came out and Canada had a negative 0.04% growth rate”Canada’s GDP growth rate for May 2026, released around May 31, 2026, was negative 0.04%.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20