Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Heather McPherson

NDP on Business of Supply 2026-10-22

151 words · 8 sentences · 9 clauses

Replying to John-Paul Danko (Liberal)

“Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the comments from the member opposite, especially her comments about the importance of the CBC. I listen to CBC Radio One daily and also local news. In Hamilton, we have lost our local weekly newspapers. We have lost local talk radio stations. Even the daily TV news is a shadow of its former self, as is the daily newspaper. I am wondering if the member could expand on the importance of having a common frame of reference. She talked about how that is impacting democracies. I think this is an issue not only for Canada, but also for western democracies around the world.”

Statement grade

C+

Average 66 / 100

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

Procedure 34%Claims 66%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 52 wordsit is a bit of a bigger issue, and the government has a role to play on a larger scale. This is not just about making web giants pay their fair share. It is not just about taking $600 million from Canadians to make up the shortfall. It is a bigger picture.Procedure Claims · 99 wordsWe need to have guardrails and legislation in place to protect Canadians from the disinformation, misinformation and foreign interference we are seeing on social media platforms. We need to make sure that Canadians have the education they need so they are able to recognize AI slop, bots and whatnot.Vague promise We also need to make sure that we are supporting our local news.Vague promise I have incredible local journalists and news outlets in Edmonton and in Alberta that do not get the support they need to continue to provide the services we need as Canadians for our democracy to be strong.Partly on point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 58

5 of 11 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 “it is a bit of a bigger issue,”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 the government has a role to play on a larger scale.”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 “This is not just about making web giants pay their fair share.”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 “It is not just about taking $600 million from Canadians to make up the shortfall.”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 “It is a bigger picture.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 46

4 of 11 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.

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 “We need to have guardrails and legislation in place to protect Canadians from the disinformation, misinformation and foreign interference we are seeing on social media platforms.”The clause addresses digital threats to citizens, which is related to the common frame of reference but focuses on disinformation rather than local news infrastructure.
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 “We need to make sure that Canadians have the education they need so they are able to recognize AI slop, bots and whatnot.”The clause discusses media literacy regarding AI, which is a technological aspect of the media landscape, not the structural issue raised.
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 “We also need to make sure that we are supporting our local news.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.
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 “I have incredible local journalists and news outlets in Edmonton and in Alberta that do not get the support they need to continue to provide the services we need as Canadians for our democracy to be strong.”On the subject of the question, but no answer to what was asked can be drawn from it.

Respect · 100

0 of 11 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 · 58

2 of 11 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 “make sure that Canadians have the education they need”The statement commits to improving public education but provides no specific actor, measure, or timeline for this action.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “supporting our local news”This clause outlines a policy goal but fails to specify the methods, responsible parties, or measurable outcomes of the support.

Claims · 0

This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.

No checkable claims.

Analysed on 2026-10-24