Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Joanne Thompson

Liberal on Fisheries and Oceans 2026-10-08

86 words · 7 sentences · 7 clauses

Replying to Clifford Small (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, selling out our fishing industry to foreign interests is not nonsense. I would have the member for St. John’s East understand that. The Prime Minister and the President of France two weeks ago announced a 1,500-tonne quota of crab to be caught in waters that are controlled by Canada. The Minister of Fisheries expressed her disappointment. The Canadian fishing industry deserves better. Will the Prime Minister stand today with our fishing industry and stop this giveaway, or has he already sold it out to foreign interests?”

Statement grade

D+

50 / 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.

Aside 50%Reasoning 22%Positioning 28%

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

Mr. Speaker, Aside · 43 wordsit is nice to hear the member stand in the House again. It has been a long time since we have heard from him. I want to take this opportunity to see if he still believes that our school nutrition program is garbage.¹Aside Reasoning · 19 wordsLet me remind him that we are facing a time in our country when we need to come together. Positioning · 24 wordsNewfoundlanders and Labradorians understand this. The constituents in his riding understand this.Partly on point It is a shame that he still has to play cheap politics.PositioningOff point

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 · 20

6 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.

A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “it is nice to hear the member stand in the House again.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “It has been a long time since we have heard from him.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “I want to take this opportunity to see if he still believes that our school nutrition program is garbage.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Newfoundlanders and Labradorians understand this.”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 “The constituents in his riding understand this.”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 “It is a shame that he still has to play cheap politics.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 34

4 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.

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 “Let me remind him that we are facing a time in our country when we need to come together.”A general call for national unity, not the crab quota decision 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 “Newfoundlanders and Labradorians understand this.”About Newfoundlanders and Labradorians understanding the need for unity, not the quota question.
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 “The constituents in his riding understand this.”About the member’s constituents understanding the need for unity, not the quota 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 “It is a shame that he still has to play cheap politics.”A criticism of the member’s conduct in place of an answer on the crab quota.

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 · 100

0 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.

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“still believes that our school nutrition program is garbage”The federal school nutrition program is a Liberal government program that the member for Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish had characterized as garbage.search

Analysed on 2026-10-19