Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on The Economy 2026-06-18

112 words · 7 sentences · 8 clauses

Replying to Pierre Poilievre (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, do people know why the Prime Minister cannot stand to answer a question in the House of Commons? It is because he has been wrong about every single economic issue of the last decade. He was wrong to push bigger and broader carbon taxes. He was wrong to say that we should keep half our oil in the ground. He was wrong to say that COVID would lead to deflation or dropping prices. He was wrong to say that governments should print hundreds of billions of dollars, the reason we have the inflation. Now he is wrong again, as the only G20 leader out of 20 countries to lead his country in a recession. Does the Prime Minister realize that when he gets it wrong, Canadians pay the price?”

Statement grade

30 / 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 12%Positioning 71%Claims 17%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 13 wordswe have been having an interesting conversation this week in this very forum.Procedure Positioning · 15 wordsThe Conservatives pretend to stand up for and care for vulnerable people in this country, PositioningClaims · 19 wordsyet every time we propose a program, a tax reduction or a hand-up to people, they vote against it.¹ Positioning · 65 wordsWhen we talk about the unjustified trade war being perpetrated on this country, what do they do? They say that we are having a hissy fit.² When we try to build this country up, build housing, build major projects like high-speed rail, build critical minerals, what do they do? They criticize that. What, for the love of all that is good, is the leader for?PositioningOff point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.
Little substanceMuch of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 16

7 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.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “we have been having an interesting conversation this week in this very forum.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “The Conservatives pretend to stand up for and care for vulnerable people in this country,”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 “When we talk about the unjustified trade war being perpetrated on this country, what do they do?”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 “They say that we are having a hissy fit.”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 “When we try to build this country up, build housing, build major projects like high-speed rail, build critical minerals, what do they do?”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 “They criticize that.”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 “What, for the love of all that is good, is the leader for?”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 0

7 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 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 “The Conservatives pretend to stand up for and care for vulnerable people in this country,”About the Conservatives’ posture toward vulnerable people, not the Prime Minister’s economic record.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “yet every time we propose a program, a tax reduction or a hand-up to people, they vote against it.”About how the Conservatives vote on government programs, not the economic record asked about.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “When we talk about the unjustified trade war being perpetrated on this country, what do they do?”About the trade war and the Conservatives’ response to it, not the question’s subject.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “They say that we are having a hissy fit.”A quoted criticism from the Conservatives about the trade war, not the economic record asked about.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “When we try to build this country up, build housing, build major projects like high-speed rail, build critical minerals, what do they do?”About building housing, transit and minerals projects, not the Prime Minister’s economic record or the price Canadians pay.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “They criticize that.”About Conservative criticism of building projects, not the question’s subject.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “What, for the love of all that is good, is the leader for?”A rhetorical jab at the Conservative leader’s purpose, not the economic question asked.

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 · 100

0 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.

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“every time we propose a program, a tax reduction or a hand-up to people, they vote against it”The Conservative members vote against every program, tax reduction or benefit the Liberal government proposes in the House.search
2“They say that we are having a hissy fit”Conservative members have said in the House that the government is having a ‘hissy fit’ about the trade war against Canada.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20