Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Marie-Gabrielle Ménard

Liberal on Small Business 2026-04-23

73 words · 6 sentences · 7 clauses

Replying to Sandra Cobena (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, the CFIB has sounded the alarm on the entrepreneurial drought in Canada for six consecutive quarters. More businesses have shut down than opened up. The Montreal Economic Institute has said that “the heartbeat of innovation, job creation and economic growth...is in sharp decline”. Small businesses spend about 250 hours per year on red tape that could be eliminated, and it would not even cost the government a single dollar. Will the minister admit that the Liberals’ tax-and-spend approach has failed and get out of the way so that our businesses can thrive?”

Statement grade

C–

55 / 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.

Positioning 15%Claims 70%Promise 15%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 11 wordsof course, I share my colleague’s concern for our small businesses.Positioning Claims · 31 wordsCanada is home to one million businesses employing six million Canadians.¹ I have just finished a series of round-table discussions, and we are working with SMEs to help them get export-ready.Vague promise Promise · 11 wordsSmall businesses will have their place in Canada’s defence industrial strategy.²Off pointVague promise Claims · 20 wordsThe Canadian Federation of Independent Business welcomed the suspension of the excise tax.³ That also supports small businesses in Canada.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 81

1 of 8 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 “of course, I share my colleague’s concern for our small businesses.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 25

5 of 8 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 “of course, I share my colleague’s concern for our small businesses.”Expressing shared concern is a gesture, not an answer to whether the government’s approach has failed.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Canada is home to one million businesses employing six million Canadians.”Offers general employment statistics instead of addressing the decline in business openings the question raised.
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 have just finished a series of round-table discussions,”Round-table consultations answer a different question than the one 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 “and we are working with SMEs to help them get export-ready.”Export-readiness work does not respond to the challenge about the government’s overall approach.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Small businesses will have their place in Canada’s defence industrial strategy.”The defence industrial strategy was not the subject of 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 · 65

2 of 8 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 working with SMEs to help them get export-ready”No date, measure, or success condition is given for this open-ended commitment.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “Small businesses will have their place in Canada’s defence industrial strategy”The commitment names no actor, date, or concrete measure for what that place entails.

Claims · 3

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“one million businesses employing six million Canadians”Canada is home to one million businesses employing six million Canadians.search
2“Small businesses will have their place in Canada’s defence industrial strategy”Small businesses will have a place in Canada’s defence industrial strategy.search
3“The Canadian Federation of Independent Business welcomed the suspension of the excise tax”The Canadian Federation of Independent Business welcomed the suspension of the excise tax.search

Analysed on 2026-09-15