Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on The Economy 2026-06-18

132 words · 9 sentences · 12 clauses

Replying to Pierre Poilievre (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister ends his third session, I ask this question: Are our groceries, gas and mortgage payments more affordable than they were a year ago, and are our streets safer or more riddled with crime? Aside from his endless announcements, excuses and promises, the Prime Minister has doubled the deficit and increased housing costs. Homebuilding is actually down. Gas, groceries and mortgage payments are nearing record highs. Will the Prime Minister put aside the illusions and stand up in this House of Commons now and defend his disastrous results?”

Statement grade

D+

50 / 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.

Procedure 10%Thanks 23%Claims 44%Positioning 6%Promise 17%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 8 wordswe are at the end of a session, ProcedureThanks · 30 wordsand I wish the Leader of the Opposition, his colleagues and obviously his family a restful summer, as I wish for all my colleagues on this side of the House.Thanks Claims · 40 wordsI want to point out that we are finishing one of the most productive legislative sessions in recent history. Twenty-one bills have become law through this chamber.¹Off point We have passed the largest criminal justice reform in the history of Canada. Positioning · 8 wordsLiberals are the law and order party now.Positioning Claims · 18 wordsWe have put in place a series of measures to make life easier and more affordable for Canadians.Partly on point Procedure · 5 wordsWe are not stopping there.Procedure Promise · 23 wordsWe are going to continue the work.Vague promise We are going to build Canada strong, Vague promiseand we are going to make this country proud.Off pointVague promise

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.
Echo ×33“We are going to build Canada strong.” Said 33 times by 14 members.Every time it was said

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 53

5 of 16 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.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “we are at the end of a session,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and I wish the Leader of the Opposition, his colleagues and obviously his family a restful summer,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “as I wish for all my colleagues on this side of the House.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Liberals are the law and order party now.”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 “We are not stopping there.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 20

8 of 16 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 “I want to point out that we are finishing one of the most productive legislative sessions in recent history.”About the session’s legislative productivity, not affordability or crime.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Twenty-one bills have become law through this chamber.”A count of bills passed, not about affordability or crime.
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 passed the largest criminal justice reform in the history of Canada.”About criminal justice legislation, touching the safety side without addressing whether streets are safer now.
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 “Liberals are the law and order party now.”A claim of party credit on crime, not an answer to whether streets are safer.
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 put in place a series of measures to make life easier and more affordable for Canadians.”Names measures on affordability without addressing whether costs are actually lower than a year ago.
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 going to continue the work.”A general pledge of continued work, not answering what was 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 “We are going to build Canada strong,”A general slogan about the country, not the affordability or crime question.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “and we are going to make this country proud.”A general patriotic pledge, not the question asked.

Respect · 100

0 of 16 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 · 68

3 of 16 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 are going to continue the work”The commitment names no measure, date or success condition.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “We are going to build Canada strong”A commitment with no actor beyond the slogan, no measure and no way to tell when it is done.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we are going to make this country proud”The pledge offers no measure or condition by which pride or delivery could be judged.

Echo · 1 repeated line

Words members of Parliament keep repeating, found by the same rule for every member. No score depends on it.

“We are going to build Canada strong.”Said 33 times by 14 members.Every time it was said

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“Twenty-one bills have become law through this chamber”Twenty-one bills have become law through the House of Commons in the session ending June 2026.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20