Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Intergovernmental Affairs 2026-09-23

92 words · 4 sentences · 5 clauses

Replying to Christine Normandin (Bloc Québécois)

“Mr. Speaker, Bill C‑39 has nothing to do with making Canada strong. It is a bill for making democracy weak. It is 250 pages of measures that take an axe to almost every federal law, undermining our rights and harming our environment. In one of these measures, Ottawa is giving itself the power to designate any part of Quebec as a region of national interest and place it under federal control. Did the Prime Minister consult Quebec before seizing power over Quebec soil?”

Statement grade

D+

51 / 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 53%Claims 47%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 37 wordsone thing the Bloc Québécois has not yet understood is that we are going to work tirelessly and never give up on our efforts to promote Quebec’s development and provide jobs, opportunities and investments across the province.PositioningOff pointVague promise Claims · 43 wordsIf the member wants an example, she need only look at the Churchill Falls agreement, signed with Quebec and Newfoundland, in which the Prime Minister was personally and directly involved.¹ This project will create 23,000 jobs and supply electricity for generations of Quebeckers.²Partly on point Positioning · 12 wordsThat is what it means to build, and we will continue building.PositioningOff pointVague promise

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.
Little substanceMuch of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 42

3 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “one thing the Bloc Québécois has not yet understood is that we are going to work tirelessly and never give up on our efforts to promote Quebec’s development and provide jobs, opportunities and investments across the province.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “That is what it means to build,”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “and we will continue building.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 21

5 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 “one thing the Bloc Québécois has not yet understood is that we are going to work tirelessly and never give up on our efforts to promote Quebec’s development and provide jobs, opportunities and investments across the province.”An attack on the Bloc and praise of the government’s own efforts, offered in place of an answer on consultation.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “If the member wants an example, she need only look at the Churchill Falls agreement, signed with Quebec and Newfoundland, in which the Prime Minister was personally and directly involved.”About the Churchill Falls agreement, not whether Quebec was consulted on the designation power.
Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.What the tags mean “This project will create 23,000 jobs and supply electricity for generations of Quebeckers.”About jobs and electricity from that project, not the consultation asked about.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “That is what it means to build,”A general boast about building, not the consultation asked about.
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 will continue building.”A general pledge to keep building, not the consultation asked about.

Respect · 100

0 of 10 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 · 49

2 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 “work tirelessly and never give up on our efforts”A commitment to effort with no measure, date or success condition named.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we will continue building”A promise to keep acting with no actor beyond themselves, measure or outcome specified.

Claims · 2

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“the Churchill Falls agreement, signed with Quebec and Newfoundland, in which the Prime Minister was personally and directly involved”A Churchill Falls agreement was signed with Quebec and Newfoundland, and the Prime Minister was personally and directly involved in it.search
2“This project will create 23,000 jobs”The Churchill Falls project is projected to create 23,000 jobs.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20