Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Joël Lightbound

Liberal on Small Business 2026-06-17

129 words · 7 sentences · 12 clauses

Replying to Jason Groleau (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, according to the CFIB, four in 10 businesses say that economic uncertainty, and especially political uncertainty, is discouraging investment in our country. In Beauce, we are fortunate to have extraordinary companies such as Beauce Atlas and Bois Hamel creating jobs, investing in our communities, and creating wealth in our regions. However, over the past 10 years under the Liberals, with all the colossal deficits, instability, and lack of leadership in particular, investment in Canada has stalled. Do the Liberals realize that they are part of the problem facing Canadian businesses?”

Statement grade

46 / 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.

Claims 68%The ask 12%Reasoning 9%Procedure 12%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 32 wordsspeaking of a lack of leadership, Canadians have been looking for the Conservative Party’s economic plan for at least two years.¹ No one has found it yet, because it does not exist.Off point The ask · 15 wordsI would invite my colleague to look at the superdeduction in budget 2025, for example.² Reasoning · 11 wordsAccelerated depreciation will encourage businesses to invest and increase their productivity. Claims · 8 wordsThat is exactly what our government’s strategy is, Partly on pointProcedure · 5 wordsbut that is not all; ProcedureClaims · 6 wordsit also includes diversifying our markets.Partly on point Procedure · 10 wordsToday, the numbers speak for themselves, Unearned certaintyas my colleague said.Procedure Claims · 42 wordsWe have increased our exports to the European Union by 23% and to the United Kingdom by 62%, ³and we are investing in our infrastructure, at the ports of Quebec and Montreal, for instance, in order to boost productivity across the country.⁴Off point

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 · 83

3 of 13 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 “but that is not all;”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Today, the numbers speak for themselves,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “as my colleague said.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 16

9 of 13 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 “speaking of a lack of leadership, Canadians have been looking for the Conservative Party’s economic plan for at least two years.”An attack on the Conservatives’ missing plan in place of an answer.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “No one has found it yet,”Continues the attack on the Conservatives rather than addressing the question about the government.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “because it does not exist.”Concludes the attack on the opposition’s plan instead of answering whether the government is part of the problem.
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 invite my colleague to look at the superdeduction in budget 2025, for example.”Names a government measure on investment, but does not address whether the government is part of the problem.
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 “Accelerated depreciation will encourage businesses to invest and increase their productivity.”Explains a budget measure’s effect on investment without answering the yes-or-no question.
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 is exactly what our government’s strategy is,”Describes the government’s strategy on the subject but does not address the question put.
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 “it also includes diversifying our markets.”Another government measure on the issue, offered instead of an answer to the 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 “We have increased our exports to the European Union by 23% and to the United Kingdom by 62%,”Export figures praising the government’s record in place of an answer.
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 investing in our infrastructure, at the ports of Quebec and Montreal, for instance, in order to boost productivity across the country.”More praise of government investments rather than addressing whether the government is part of the problem.

Respect · 100

0 of 13 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

1 of 13 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.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “the numbers speak for themselves”This formula asserts the figures are self-evident rather than citing a source for them.

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“Canadians have been looking for the Conservative Party’s economic plan for at least two years”The Conservative Party has not released an economic plan for at least two years as of June 2026.search
2“the superdeduction in budget 2025”Budget 2025 included a superdeduction tax measure for businesses.search
3“We have increased our exports to the European Union by 23% and to the United Kingdom by 62%”Canada’s exports to the European Union increased by 23% and exports to the United Kingdom by 62%.search
4“we are investing in our infrastructure, at the ports of Quebec and Montreal”The government is investing in infrastructure at the ports of Quebec and Montreal.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20