Analysis · Debate reply · beta

Greg McLean

Conservative on Business of Supply 2026-10-27

184 words · 15 sentences · 17 clauses

Replying to Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal)

“Mr. Speaker, it is important to recognize that the government has made a commitment with respect to the operating balance, which I think is a positive thing. The member might find some light in that. He made reference to the PBO quite a bit in his comments. I wonder if he is aware that even under Stephen Harper’s administration, warnings came from the Parliamentary Budget Officer. At the end of the day, I believe we have fiscal capacity. Does the member believe that if we have fiscal capacity, we should seriously look at investing in Canadians to try to build a larger economy, which would help out in the long run?”

Statement grade

Average 94 / 100

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

Procedure 7%Claims 58%Reasoning 15%Positioning 3%Promise 17%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 7 wordswe have talked about the operating balance.Procedure Claims · 17 wordsI have pointed out a bunch of numbers that were part of the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s report.Partly on point Reasoning · 14 wordsFiscal capacity is there until it is not. Suddenly, it all turns around overnight, Claims · 10 wordsand it turned around when Jean Chrétien was Prime Minister.¹ Procedure · 5 wordsI pointed out the example.Procedure Claims · 23 wordsIt happens very suddenly when the IMF, the International Monetary Fund, comes in and says that we can no longer pay our bills.² Positioning · 6 wordsWhat is on the horizon here?Positioning Claims · 37 wordsI will point out to the member that interest rates are rising around the world, primarily because of excess government debt everywhere, in Canada in particular. The increase in government debt is going to cause more risk. Reasoning · 14 wordsTherefore, bond rates will go up and more people will have to pay money. Claims · 13 wordsThis avalanche will happen before it is planned. It will happen very suddenly, Promise · 32 wordsand we need to get it in front of us. We need to make sure we are aware of it. We need to make sure we know how to deal with it. Claims · 6 wordsFiscal capacity will disappear very quickly.

At a glance

Lost points for
AnsweredOf this reply, 90% addressed the question or point raised.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 85

3 of 4 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 “we have talked about the operating balance.”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 pointed out the example.”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 “What is on the horizon here?”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 92

1 of 4 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 have pointed out a bunch of numbers that were part of the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s report.”Points back to figures from his own earlier speech rather than addressing the question.

Respect · 100

0 of 4 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 4 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“it turned around when Jean Chrétien was Prime Minister”A turnaround in Canada’s fiscal capacity described by the speaker occurred while Jean Chrétien was Prime Minister.search
2“the IMF, the International Monetary Fund, comes in and says that we can no longer pay our bills”The IMF intervened during the Chrétien era to say Canada could no longer pay its bills.search

Analysed on 2026-10-29