Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Melissa Lantsman

Conservative on Canadian Fuel Affordability Act 2026-09-22

121 words · 5 sentences · 7 clauses

Replying to Gord Johns (NDP). The question was off topic, so this reply is judged against the bill.

“Mr. Speaker, it is rare when New Democrats and Conservatives agree on something, and we certainly agree that it is critical that we provide relief to people who are struggling right now. However, we believe that big corporations and big oil and gas should be paying for it, not creating more debt to taxpayers. One more thing we agree on is, as my colleague talked about, the lack of debate on the greatest threat to the Canadian economy with the tariffs and the countertariffs that are happening right now. I think about small businesses in my riding that have sales less than $1 million. There is no relief for them right now from the government. There is no debate happening to talk about those issues taking place right now, and it did not happen this summer, like my colleague talked about. Could the member talk about how this is impacting small businesses in her community, which are not getting any help during the greatest threat to our Canadian economy right now in our history?”

Statement grade

B–

70 / 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.

Aside 15%Procedure 5%Claims 80%

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

Mr. Speaker, Aside · 18 wordsit is rare when I agree with my NDP colleague, but a clock is right twice a day.AsideOff point Procedure · 6 wordsHe is right about one thing.Procedure Claims · 97 wordsThis place was shut down for three months, ¹and nobody from the government, including a whole bunch of backbench Liberal MPs who probably do not know the answer because they are not in the know either, along with a number of ministers, would answer to the Canadian people on the biggest crisis we face.Off point That biggest crisis is affordability. It is an affordability crisis for every single Canadian, an affordability crisis that has people scratching their heads as to why these guys do not come to work and why these guys do not answer to the public.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 75

3 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.

A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “it is rare when I agree with my NDP colleague,”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “but a clock is right twice a day.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “He is right about one thing.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 40

4 of 7 deductions are Relevance

The question was off topic, so this reply is judged against the bill.

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 bill 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 “it is rare when I agree with my NDP colleague,”About agreeing with the NDP colleague, not the bill.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “but a clock is right twice a day.”A joke about the colleague, not the bill.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “This place was shut down for three months,”About the House being shut down, which the bill does not touch.
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 nobody from the government, including a whole bunch of backbench Liberal MPs who probably do not know the answer because they are not in the know either, along with a number of ministers, would answer to the Canadian people on the biggest crisis we face.”About the government answering to Canadians during the shutdown, not the fuel tax measure.

Respect · 100

0 of 7 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

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 · 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“This place was shut down for three months”The House of Commons was shut down for three months (as of the September 22, 2026 debate).search

Analysed on 2026-10-20