Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Shannon Miedema

Liberal on Main Estimates, 2026-27 2026-06-08

107 words · 4 sentences · 7 clauses

Replying to Sébastien Lemire (Bloc Québécois)

“Mr. Speaker, when it comes to supply and appropriations, a major issue for me in the past year has been the announcement about budget cuts to science and research. This will save the government approximately $27 million to $35 million over five years. Will saving this amount over five years really make a difference when we know that the deficit is over $70 billion? The government will save a mere $27 million to $35 million by making cuts to science and research. What we are also seeing today in Bill C-30 is that the government is going to permit the use of more pesticides without knowing what kind of cocktail this will create and without knowing what impact it will have on human health, because the government is also making cuts to the science and research that would help find alternatives. Is my colleague concerned about that?”

Statement grade

C+

Average 68 / 100

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

Positioning 17%Claims 76%Reasoning 7%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 18 wordsI am really excited about the dual spending that is happening as we put our strategy into action.PositioningVague promise Claims · 23 wordsDalhousie University has a wonderful ocean science and research program, and it is capitalizing on defence spending to further ocean science and research.¹ Reasoning · 8 wordsThat is a really important piece of it, Claims · 58 wordswhere we are going to increase our innovation and research.Vague promise Excitedly, today, we just announced that the Our Ocean Conference is going to be hosted for the first time in Canada in 14 years in Halifax in 2027, ²where we will bring all the great minds from science and research together to continue to advance our shared priorities.Partly on pointVague promise

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 · 79

1 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 “I am really excited about the dual spending that is happening as we put our strategy into action.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 45

7 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 am really excited about the dual spending that is happening as we put our strategy into action.”Enthusiasm for defence strategy spending does not address the cuts to science and research or their value against the deficit.
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 “Dalhousie University has a wonderful ocean science and research program,”About a university research program, not whether the research cuts or their savings make sense.
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 is capitalizing on defence spending to further ocean science and research.”Defence-funded ocean research touches the science theme but does not answer about the cuts, the deficit or pesticides.
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 “That is a really important piece of it,”A general point on innovation and research, not an answer to 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 “where we are going to increase our innovation and research.”Speaks to increasing research generally, not the cuts to research spending or their consequences.
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 “Excitedly, today, we just announced that the Our Ocean Conference is going to be hosted for the first time in Canada in 14 years in Halifax in 2027,”About a conference announcement, touching research only in passing and not the cuts, deficit or pesticides.
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 “where we will bring all the great minds from science and research together to continue to advance our shared priorities.”About convening science minds at a future conference, not about the research cuts or the concerns raised.

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 · 50

3 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.

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “as we put our strategy into action”The speaker claims action is underway without naming any measure, actor or date.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we are going to increase our innovation and research”The commitment to increase innovation and research names no measure, date or success condition.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “to continue to advance our shared priorities”The purpose is stated with no measurable goal, actor or timeline.

Claims · 2

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“it is capitalizing on defence spending to further ocean science and research”Dalhousie University is capitalizing on defence spending to further ocean science and research.search
2“the Our Ocean Conference is going to be hosted for the first time in Canada in 14 years in Halifax in 2027”The Our Ocean Conference is going to be hosted for the first time in Canada in 14 years in Halifax in 2027.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20