Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Employment 2026-06-09

89 words · 5 sentences · 6 clauses

Replying to Michelle Rempel Garner (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, yes, there are regions in Canada with ultralow unemployment. However, in major urban centres across the country, unemployment is out of control. There are over 400,000 young Canadians who are out of work. Instead of flooding the labour market with more temporary foreign workers, the government should be trying to match available Canadians with those jobs. This is where the policy discussion should be, not with the interests of lobbyists. Why will the government not abolish the TFW program and match available Canadians with available jobs?”

Statement grade

C+

68 / 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 60%Positioning 40%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 53 wordsthe number of temporary foreign workers in this country is down by over 50%.¹ That does not mean we have reached equilibrium. There are legitimate issues in rural and other parts of this country, including in small businesses in rural Quebec, and members from that side of the House quite accurately reflect it.Partly on point Positioning · 36 wordsI thought we had put a stop to the highly duplicitous practice of saying one thing in English and something else in French in the House 20 years ago. We are fed up with the hypocrisy.PositioningOff point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 54

2 of 6 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 thought we had put a stop to the highly duplicitous practice of saying one thing in English and something else in French in the House 20 years ago.”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 “We are fed up with the hypocrisy.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 38

4 of 6 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 “There are legitimate issues in rural and other parts of this country, including in small businesses in rural Quebec,”About legitimate regional need for temporary foreign workers, not about abolishing the program or matching Canadians to jobs.
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 members from that side of the House quite accurately reflect it.”Praises opposition members for reflecting regional employer concerns, without addressing the question of abolishing the program.
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 thought we had put a stop to the highly duplicitous practice of saying one thing in English and something else in French in the House 20 years ago.”An accusation of duplicity in bilingual messaging, unrelated to the TFW program.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “We are fed up with the hypocrisy.”A complaint about hypocrisy, not about the TFW program or the question asked.

Respect · 100

0 of 6 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 6 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“the number of temporary foreign workers in this country is down by over 50%”The number of temporary foreign workers in Canada is down by over 50%.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20