Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Heather McPherson

NDP on Business of Supply 2026-10-08

202 words · 9 sentences · 11 clauses

Replying to Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal)

“Mr. Speaker, on the issue of affordability, over the last 18 months the government has taken a number of initiatives, many of them to address some of the concerns the member has raised. We have heard a great deal about our seniors, for example, and the dental care program. Every so often we hear about the national school nutrition program, which helps 400,000 children. There are other initiatives that we may not have heard much about, such as the groceries and essentials benefit program or the tax cut, all of which were designed to help with affordability. Does the NDP support the initiatives the government has taken to date on the issue of affordability?”

Statement grade

B–

Average 74 / 100

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

Procedure 19%Thanks 16%Claims 54%Positioning 11%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 27 wordsI do not even know which of those things to address, so I am going to stick with the health care components that the member spoke about.Procedure Thanks · 33 wordsFirst of all, I am extraordinarily proud to be in the same caucus as the member for Vancouver Kingsway, who worked so incredibly hard to get the pharmacare program that was brought forward.¹Thanks Claims · 63 wordsThis was something the NDP pushed for and has pushed for for decades.Off point The problem is, the government is now failing to live up to its obligations to provide pharmacare to people across this country. On the dental care program, again, the government is failing to ensure that people across this country can access that program. It is not working for every Canadian. Positioning · 22 wordsIf New Democrats had developed that program, it would work for all Canadians instead of what we are seeing from the government.Positioning Procedure · 11 wordsLet us talk a bit about our public health care system.Procedure Claims · 46 wordsRight now, in my province of Alberta, Danielle Smith is using legislation to break the Canada Health Act, ²and yet the government refuses to stand up and hold Danielle Smith and the UCP government responsible for breaking one of the most cherished institutions of our country.Off point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 45

5 of 8 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 do not even know which of those things to address,”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 “so I am going to stick with the health care components that the member spoke about.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “First of all, I am extraordinarily proud to be in the same caucus as the member for Vancouver Kingsway, who worked so incredibly hard to get the pharmacare program that was brought forward.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “If New Democrats had developed that program, it would work for all Canadians instead of what we are seeing from the government.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Let us talk a bit about our public health care system.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 49

3 of 8 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 “This was something the NDP pushed for and has pushed for for decades.”It credits the NDP’s own past advocacy rather than addressing the 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 “Right now, in my province of Alberta, Danielle Smith is using legislation to break the Canada Health Act,”It is about Alberta health legislation, not the affordability initiatives 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 yet the government refuses to stand up and hold Danielle Smith and the UCP government responsible for breaking one of the most cherished institutions of our country.”It is about enforcement of the Canada Health Act in Alberta, not support for the government’s affordability programs.

Respect · 100

0 of 8 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 8 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 · 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“worked so incredibly hard to get the pharmacare program that was brought forward”The member for Vancouver Kingsway worked to bring forward the federal pharmacare program.search
2“Danielle Smith is using legislation to break the Canada Health Act”Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is using legislation in a way that breaks the Canada Health Act.search

Analysed on 2026-10-19