Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Rail Transportation 2026-06-10

105 words · 9 sentences · 9 clauses

Replying to Jean-Denis Garon (Bloc Québécois)

“Mr. Speaker, hundreds of farmers from Mirabel braved the rain today on Parliament Hill. They came to tell the Liberals that they are not happy with Alto’s high‑speed train project in its current form. It is too bad that the minister did not come out to meet with them. He could have answered all the questions that Alto has been refusing to answer since January. If the Liberals think they are going to be able to forcibly expropriate land in Mirabel yet again, our farmers proved today that they have another think coming. Will the government finally respect our farmers, meet with them and answer their questions?”

Statement grade

B–

Average 70 / 100

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

Positioning 32%Claims 32%Promise 25%Reasoning 10%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 17 wordsI want to reassure the member that I do not need his help to meet with farmers.Positioning Claims · 18 wordsI come from a farming family myself.¹ I visit farmers often. I talk to farmers all the time. Promise · 26 wordsIt is out of this respect for the agricultural community that we will carry out this project with the highest regard for the concerns of farmers.Vague promise Claims · 16 wordsIt is unfortunate that the Bloc Québécois is now breaking its promise to support this project.² Positioning · 17 wordsI do not know what the Bloc members were thinking. Did they think these trains would fly?Positioning Reasoning · 11 wordsTrains run on tracks that have to be on the ground.Off point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 61

3 of 8 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 want to reassure the member that I do not need his help to meet with farmers.”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 “I do not know what the Bloc members were thinking.”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 “Did they think these trains would fly?”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 51

4 of 8 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.

Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “It is unfortunate that the Bloc Québécois is now breaking its promise to support this project.”About the Bloc’s past support of the project, not whether the government will meet the farmers.
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 do not know what the Bloc members were thinking.”Speculation about the Bloc’s thinking, not the farmers’ request to meet.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Did they think these trains would fly?”A joking remark about trains flying, not the meeting asked for.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Trains run on tracks that have to be on the ground.”A general point about tracks on the ground, not the farmers’ questions.

Respect · 100

0 of 8 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 · 69

1 of 8 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 “we will carry out this project with the highest regard for the concerns of farmers”A commitment with no concrete measure, date or success condition for how farmers’ concerns will be respected.

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“I come from a farming family myself”Steven MacKinnon comes from a farming family.search
2“breaking its promise to support this project”The Bloc Québécois previously promised to support the Alto high-speed rail project.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20