Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Finance 2026-10-28

60 words · 5 sentences · 5 clauses

Replying to Pierre Paul-Hus (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, what is clear is that we need to hear the truth. The truth is that deficits have doubled and the debt has doubled. Even the Parliamentary Budget Officer is struggling to understand the creative way in which this government and this new Prime Minister are managing the country’s finances. We are seeing staggering expenditures hidden across different credit cards. We just want him to come and explain himself before the finance committee. Will he accept our motion today and appear before the Standing Committee on Finance, yes or no?”

Statement grade

30 / 100, held down by Relevance

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

Claims 68%Positioning 15%The question 17%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 23 wordsoccasionally, we like to rise in the House to remind the Conservatives that they have never defined what they mean by inflationary spending.¹ Positioning · 9 wordsIs it the Canada child benefit? Is it equalization?Positioning Claims · 18 wordsIs it our military spending that has increased and will continue to increase to reach 5% of GDP?² The question · 10 wordsWhat does my Conservative friend consider to be inflationary spending?Off point

At a glance

Lost points for
Didn't answerNone of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.
Echo ×7“Is it the Canada child benefit?” Said 7 times by 3 members.Every time it was said

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 82

2 of 7 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Is it the Canada child benefit?”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 “Is it equalization?”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 0

5 of 7 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.

Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “occasionally, we like to rise in the House to remind the Conservatives that they have never defined what they mean by inflationary spending.”About the Conservatives’ use of the term inflationary spending, not whether he will appear before the committee.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Is it the Canada child benefit?”About the child benefit as possible inflationary spending, not the invitation to appear before the finance committee.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Is it equalization?”About equalization as possible inflationary spending, not the question on committee appearance.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Is it our military spending that has increased and will continue to increase to reach 5% of GDP?”About military spending targets, not whether he will appear before the committee.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “What does my Conservative friend consider to be inflationary spending?”Asks the member to define inflationary spending, a different subject from the motion on committee appearance.

Respect · 100

0 of 7 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 7 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.

Echo · 1 repeated line

Words members of Parliament keep repeating, found by the same rule for every member. No score depends on it.

“Is it the Canada child benefit?”Said 7 times by 3 members.Every time it was said

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“the Conservatives that they have never defined what they mean by inflationary spending”The Conservatives have never defined what they mean by inflationary spending.search
2“our military spending that has increased”Canadian military spending has increased.search

Analysed on 2026-10-30