Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Marianne Dandurand

Liberal on Business of Supply 2026-10-27

116 words · 5 sentences · 7 clauses

Replying to Marilène Gill (Bloc Québécois)

“Mr. Speaker, we have been talking about investments versus spending. My colleague, the member for Mirabel, spoke about the government’s creative accounting. I know that members listened closely to his remarks earlier. I would like to know what my colleague thinks of an approach that makes government spending appear lower than it actually is. As my colleague pointed out, even experts were unable to shed light on this accounting when the matter was studied in committee. I think what we are talking about here today is the government’s massive spending, which has resulted in debt servicing costs now exceeding health transfers to Quebec and the provinces.”

Statement grade

C–

59 / 100, held down by Clarity

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

Thanks 14%Aside 16%Procedure 14%Claims 40%Positioning 17%

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

Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 16 wordsI thank my colleague for bringing us back to the speech by our colleague from Mirabel.Thanks Aside · 18 wordsI always find the member for Mirabel very creative in his speeches.Partly on point His references always make me smile, AsideProcedure · 16 wordsbut we certainly do not always agree on certain matters, including the way we do accounting.Procedure Claims · 46 wordsQuite frankly, what we have managed to do is separate operating expenditures from capital expenditures to get a clear picture of our operating costs, reduce them as much as possible and free up those funds to invest in productive initiatives that will strengthen the Canadian economy.¹Vague promise Positioning · 20 wordsIf that is what some call creativity, then I would call it very constructive creativity, because the results are positive.Positioning

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 · 36

6 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.

Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I thank my colleague for bringing us back to the speech by our colleague from Mirabel.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “I always find the member for Mirabel very creative in his speeches.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “His references always make me smile,”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 “but we certainly do not always agree on certain matters, including the way we do accounting.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “If that is what some call creativity, then I would call it very constructive creativity,”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 “because the results are positive.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

1 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.

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 always find the member for Mirabel very creative in his speeches.”The statement comments on the speaker’s general style without addressing the substance of the accounting criticism.

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 · 29

1 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.

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “reduce them as much as possible”The commitment does not specify a quantitative goal or measure for the reduction.

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“separate operating expenditures from capital expenditures”The federal government has separated operating expenditures from capital expenditures in its accounting to get a clearer picture of operating costs.search

Analysed on 2026-10-29