Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Finance 2026-04-23

103 words · 4 sentences · 7 clauses

Replying to Melissa Lantsman (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, there is the Alto high-speed train, consultants and the gun buyback program. There are a number of them, and we can discuss those at length in the House. However, the C.D. Howe Institute also said today that persistent Liberal deficits are undermining “growth and living standards” rather than supporting them, the very thing they claim to do. Every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians. When will all of that stop and when is anybody over there going to be held accountable for any of it?”

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.

Reasoning 35%Procedure 9%Promise 44%Positioning 13%

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

Mr. Speaker, Reasoning · 36 wordswe can believe the deputy leader of the Conservative Party, or we can believe the International Monetary Fund, which says that Canada has the best fiscal situation in the G7 and has lots of fiscal capacity.¹ Procedure · 9 wordsDo colleagues know what we are going to do?Procedure Promise · 45 wordsWe are going to use that fiscal capacity to build Canada, to build it strong, to build with Canadian products and with Canadian men and women in the skilled trades.Vague promise We are going to build projects from coast to coast to coast in this country, Positioning · 13 wordsand we are going to build it over the objections of that member.PositioningOff 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 · 72

2 of 10 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 “Do colleagues know what we are going to do?”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 “and we are going to build it over the objections of that member.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 0

7 of 10 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 “we can believe the deputy leader of the Conservative Party,”Sets up an attack on the questioner rather than answering 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 “or we can believe the International Monetary Fund,”Only introduces a third party, contributing nothing 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 “which says that Canada has the best fiscal situation in the G7 and has lots of fiscal capacity.”While it cites IMF praise of fiscal capacity, it dodges the question of when spending will stop.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Do colleagues know what we are going to do?”Rhetorical filler rather than 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 “We are going to use that fiscal capacity to build Canada, to build it strong, to build with Canadian products and with Canadian men and women in the skilled trades.”Announces the government’s building plans instead of answering when spending will stop or who will be accountable.
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 projects from coast to coast to coast in this country,”More description of building projects, unrelated to the accountability 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 build it over the objections of that member.”A jab at the member rather than a response to the question.

Respect · no score

Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.

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.

Clarity · 62

1 of 10 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 use that fiscal capacity to build Canada”A commitment with no project, date, measure or success condition.

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“which says that Canada has the best fiscal situation in the G7 and has lots of fiscal capacity.”The International Monetary Fund says Canada has the best fiscal situation in the G7 and has ample fiscal capacity.search

Analysed on 2026-09-15