Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Finance 2026-04-23

73 words · 6 sentences · 6 clauses

Replying to Luc Berthold (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have already cribbed many of our ideas. The Liberal Prime Minister has completely lost control of public finances. He has added $90 billion in new spending. We are paying $55.6 billion a year just in interest on the debt. That is more than what the GST brings in. It is more than health care transfers. What this means for the public is that money is not going to patients or families. Every family is already paying $3,300 a year just in interest. Next week, during the fiscal update, will the Prime Minister change course, or will he doom Canadians to pay even more for his Liberal spending?”

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.

Positioning 10%The question 90%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 7 wordswe are a bit puzzled over here.Positioning The question · 66 wordsIs dental care an inflationary expense? Are school meal programs an inflationary expense? Is support for Quebec workers and industries that are feeling the pinch from the U.S. tariffs an inflationary expense? What exactly are these inflationary expenses? Where is the document that the member intends to table to provide a detailed list of the inflationary expenses he would like to debate here in the House?Off 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 · 88

1 of 7 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 “we are a bit puzzled over here.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 0

6 of 7 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 are a bit puzzled over here.”A jab at the questioner rather than an answer on the fiscal update.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Is dental care an inflationary expense?”A rhetorical counter-question about dental care instead of answering whether course will change.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Are school meal programs an inflationary expense?”Another rhetorical question about school meals, not a response on deficits.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Is support for Quebec workers and industries that are feeling the pinch from the U.S. tariffs an inflationary expense?”A question about tariff support for Quebec workers, deflecting from the yes-or-no 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 “What exactly are these inflationary expenses?”Demands the member define terms rather than addressing the deficit 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 “Where is the document that the member intends to table to provide a detailed list of the inflationary expenses he would like to debate here in the House?”Asks for a document from the member, a political challenge in place of an answer.

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 · 100

0 of 7 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 · 0

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

No checkable claims.

Analysed on 2026-09-15