Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Business of the House 2026-09-24

256 words · 14 sentences · 18 clauses

Replying to Andrew Scheer (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, the long summertime drought of Thursday questions finally comes to an end. I know much relief is felt not just in the parliamentary precinct but across the land. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the government House leader back after what I am sure was a very busy summer for us all as we were out in our constituencies meeting with Canadians, hearing directly about their concerns and now bringing their issues back here to Parliament. I would like to ask the government House leader if during his travels this summer, he heard from Canadians who want to move past the rhetoric to results and who want the government to actually save them money. We know the government has conceded that gas taxes take a big bite out of the economy and hurt affordability. In order to save Canadians money, will he finally agree to the Conservative plan and not just have a temporary reprieve of the gas tax until January, as we saw with Bill C-38? Are there any plans for the government to make that last longer, all the way to Canada Day? Now that the government has conceded the principle that gas taxes hurt the economy, will it abandon the fuel standard tax and bring in legislation to repeal it? Finally, after all the photo ops, rhetoric and bluster, will there be a single new project that has gone through the Major Projects Office or benefited from the unprecedented powers of Bill C-5? Will we finally get to see things built, or was this summer of press conferences and MOUs just a bunch of political theatre?”

Statement grade

46 / 100, held down by Signal

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

Greeting 6%Aside 31%Procedure 37%Promise 7%Claims 13%Thanks 6%

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

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 16 wordsI want to extend my own welcome back to Parliament to my colleague across the floor.Greeting Aside · 48 wordsI know that this particular slot in the week keeps people on the edge of their seats rapt, as we do the Thursday question at this time every week. This is season two, episode one, and we do have to leave some cliffhangers, in the best TV tradition.Aside Procedure · 15 wordsI have taken careful note of the requests of my friend, the opposition House leader.Procedure Promise · 18 wordsHe can be sure that we will continue to find ways to make life more affordable for Canadians, Partly on pointVague promiseClaims · 33 wordsand prolonging the excise tax relief is an important step. As for the war in Iran, any increase in revenue that the government may have derived from it, we are returning to Canadians.Vague promise Aside · 31 wordsWith respect to major projects, that is where we will leave the cliffhanger. As we return for the next episode, the opposition House Leader may have a different question to ask.AsidePartly on point Procedure · 80 wordsThis afternoon and tomorrow, we will continue with the second reading debate of Bill C-39, the building Canada strong act.¹ When we return after spending a week in our ridings, we will resume consideration of that bill on Monday and Wednesday.² I would also like to inform the House that Tuesday, October 6, and Thursday, October 8, shall be allotted days.³ Finally, Friday will be devoted to the second reading debate of Bill C-37, the first nations clean water act.⁴Procedure Thanks · 15 wordsThank you and welcome back, Mr. Speaker. It is good to see you again, too.Thanks

At a glance

Lost points for
Little substanceMuch of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.
VagueMuch of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 16

15 of 20 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.

Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “I want to extend my own welcome back to Parliament to my colleague across the floor.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “I know that this particular slot in the week keeps people on the edge of their seats rapt,”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “as we do the Thursday question at this time every week.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “This is season two, episode one,”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “and we do have to leave some cliffhangers, in the best TV tradition.”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 “I have taken careful note of the requests of my friend, the opposition House leader.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “With respect to major projects, that is where we will leave the cliffhanger.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “As we return for the next episode, the opposition House Leader may have a different question to ask.”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 “This afternoon and tomorrow, we will continue with the second reading debate of Bill C-39, the building Canada strong act.”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 “When we return after spending a week in our ridings, we will resume consideration of that bill on Monday and Wednesday.”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 “I would also like to inform the House that Tuesday, October 6,”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 “and Thursday, October 8, shall be allotted days.”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 “Finally, Friday will be devoted to the second reading debate of Bill C-37, the first nations clean water act.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Thank you and welcome back, Mr. Speaker.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “It is good to see you again, too.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 79

3 of 20 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.

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 “He can be sure that we will continue to find ways to make life more affordable for Canadians,”A general pledge on affordability, not the specific relief or repeal asked about.
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 “With respect to major projects, that is where we will leave the cliffhanger.”Declines to say anything about the major projects question, leaving it unanswered.
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 “As we return for the next episode, the opposition House Leader may have a different question to ask.”A jocular aside about future questions, not the matters raised.

Respect · 100

0 of 20 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 · 19

2 of 20 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 will continue to find ways”A commitment with no measure, date or success condition attached.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we are returning to Canadians”A commitment to return revenue with no mechanism, amount or date named.

Claims · 4

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 afternoon and tomorrow, we will continue with the second reading debate of Bill C-39, the building Canada strong act”On September 24, 2026, the House continued second reading debate of Bill C-39, the building Canada strong act, that afternoon and the following day.search
2“we will resume consideration of that bill on Monday and Wednesday”Bill C-39, the building Canada strong act, was scheduled for resumed second reading consideration on the Monday and Wednesday after the week of September 28, 2026.search
3“and Thursday, October 8, shall be allotted days.”October 6 and October 8, 2026 were designated as allotted days in the House of Commons.search
4“Friday will be devoted to the second reading debate of Bill C-37, the first nations clean water act”Friday, September 25, 2026 was scheduled for second reading debate of Bill C-37, the first nations clean water act.search

Analysed on 2026-10-20