Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Government Business No. 9—Changes to Standing Orders 2026-04-23

50 words · 3 sentences · 4 clauses

Replying to Greg Fergus (Liberal)

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to do a thought experiment. What would happen if this were the opposite situation, if a government that was in a majority lost members to the opposing party? What would be the principle at work then?”

Statement grade

Average 90 / 100

A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.

Procedure 28%Claims 28%Reasoning 44%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 14 wordsI spoke about this at length in my speech.Off point The principle is the same: ProcedureUnearned certaintyClaims · 14 wordsA majority in the House of Commons means a majority on all House committees. Reasoning · 22 wordsA minority situation for a government in the House of Commons would obviously require a re-evaluation and a re-ordering of those committees.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 69

2 of 4 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 “I spoke about this at length in my speech.”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 “The principle is the same:”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

1 of 4 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 point put to the member, and the motion under debate.

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 spoke about this at length in my speech.”It deflects by pointing back to an earlier speech instead of answering the question put.

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

1 of 4 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 principle is the same”Asserts the principle as settled without offering the source or justification the question asked for.

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 2026-09-16