Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Shafqat Ali

Liberal on Access to Information 2026-06-15

57 words · 4 sentences · 4 clauses

Replying to Tamara Jansen (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, the press reports that Liberal MPs say the President of the Treasury Board is not very present, not very diligent and struggling to master his files. Last week, Canadians watched him stand in this House, unable to answer a very basic question about his own department. If the Prime Minister demands confidence from his ministers, does he still have confidence in the President of the Treasury Board, yes or no?”

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.

Positioning 16%Claims 51%Thanks 33%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 9 wordsCanada’s new government believes in transparency, accountability and fairness.Positioning Claims · 29 wordsAs the President of the Treasury Board, I have been meeting with government agents, including the Information Commissioner.¹ We have launched consultations to modernize the access to information system.²Partly on point Thanks · 19 wordsI thank all the government agents, including the Information Commissioner, for their work to hold the government to account.Thanks

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 47

2 of 5 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 “Canada’s new government believes in transparency, accountability and fairness.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I thank all the government agents, including the Information Commissioner, for their work to hold the government to account.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 48

3 of 5 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 “Canada’s new government believes in transparency, accountability and fairness.”General values of transparency and accountability, not the confidence 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 “As the President of the Treasury Board, I have been meeting with government agents, including the Information Commissioner.”About the minister’s own meetings, not whether the Prime Minister retains confidence in him.
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 have launched consultations to modernize the access to information system.”About consultations to modernize access to information, not the confidence question asked.

Respect · 100

0 of 5 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 5 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 · 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 have been meeting with government agents, including the Information Commissioner”As President of the Treasury Board, Shafqat Ali has been meeting with government agents, including the Information Commissioner.search
2“We have launched consultations to modernize the access to information system”The government has launched consultations to modernize the access to information system.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20