Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Strong and Free Elections Act 2026-06-11

135 words · 7 sentences · 11 clauses

Replying to Marie-Hélène Gaudreau (Bloc Québécois)

“Mr. Speaker, my question is very simple. I would like to know if my colleague opposite, the government leader, has seen or read the remarks by the National Assembly’s cybersecurity lead, Stéphane Le Bouyonnec, and if he noticed any red flags. In committee, Mr. Le Bouyonnec talked about the risks associated with insufficient digital sovereignty. In the case before us, the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs held 70 meetings before finally securing an independent public inquiry that confirmed there has been interference in our elections. If Quebec says it is not sufficiently equipped, how can we think we have nothing to worry about here when 85% of the infrastructure is owned by south-of-the-border interests?”

Statement grade

B–

Average 74 / 100

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

Thanks 4%Positioning 7%Procedure 4%Claims 44%Reasoning 13%Promise 28%

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

Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 5 wordsthat is a great question, ThanksPositioning · 9 wordsand I am not claiming we have solved everything, PositioningPartly on pointProcedure · 6 wordsbut I can say one thing.Procedure Claims · 42 wordsWe held a public inquiry into foreign interference, ¹and although some instances of interference were identified and named, the commissioner concluded that, on the whole, Canadian democracy is in good shape and that it is Canadians who determine the outcomes of elections.²³ Reasoning · 17 wordsThat said, when it comes to digital sovereignty, it is true that we must protect our institutions. Claims · 9 wordsThis bill contains specific provisions on security and cybersecurity, ⁴Promise · 7 wordsand we will continue to implement them.Vague promise Claims · 9 wordsElections Canada has become very effective in this area. Promise · 31 wordsI would be happy to continue this discussion with my colleague. We are always ready to explore ways to protect our sovereignty and our institutions through various measures, including legislative ones.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 · 80

3 of 14 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.

Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “that is a great question,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “and I am not claiming we have solved everything,”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “but I can say one thing.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 45

9 of 14 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 “and I am not claiming we have solved everything,”A general concession that problems remain, without addressing the remarks or red flags asked about.
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 held a public inquiry into foreign interference,”About the public inquiry into foreign interference, not whether the member has read the Quebec official’s remarks.
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 although some instances of interference were identified and named, the commissioner concluded that, on the whole, Canadian democracy is in good shape and that it is Canadians who determine the outcomes of elections.”About the inquiry commissioner’s overall conclusion, not the specific digital sovereignty warnings raised.
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 said, when it comes to digital sovereignty, it is true that we must protect our institutions.”A general acknowledgment that institutions must be protected, not a response to the remarks asked about.
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 “This bill contains specific provisions on security and cybersecurity,”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 we will continue to implement them.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “Elections Canada has become very effective in this area.”About Elections Canada’s general effectiveness, not the bill or the remarks asked about.
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 would be happy to continue this discussion with my colleague.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 are always ready to explore ways to protect our sovereignty and our institutions through various measures, including legislative ones.”A general willingness to explore future measures, not a response to the question put.

Respect · 100

0 of 14 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 · 72

2 of 14 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 continue to implement them”The commitment names no date, measure or success condition beyond continuing.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “We are always ready to explore ways to protect our sovereignty”Exploring ways commits the speaker to no actor, date or concrete measure.

Claims · 4

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“We held a public inquiry into foreign interference”Canada held a public inquiry into foreign interference.search
2“the commissioner concluded that, on the whole, Canadian democracy is in good shape and that it is Canadians who determine the outcomes of elections”The commissioner of the public inquiry into foreign interference concluded that Canadian democracy is in good shape and that Canadians determine the outcomes of elections.search
3“some instances of interference were identified and named”The public inquiry into foreign interference identified and named some instances of interference in Canadian elections.search
4“This bill contains specific provisions on security and cybersecurity”Bill C-25, the Strong and Free Elections Act, contains specific provisions on security and cybersecurity.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20