Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal on Business of the House 2026-10-29

221 words · 10 sentences · 14 clauses

Replying to Luc Berthold (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, it is always an honour for me to rise in place of the House leader for the official opposition to ask this question. As he says every time, all Canadians are eagerly awaiting this moment. This is an opportunity for us to ask the government what is in store for us next week. However, before we look ahead to next week, it is worth taking a brief look back. It was a tough week for the government, especially when we learned from the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s report that $703 billion would be added to the national debt over the next five years. We also learned that inflation is up to 3.1% and that the Bank of Canada has raised interest rates. Finally, the Governor of the Bank of Canada told us that families will unfortunately have to pay more for food next year. Next week, the government will, in a sense, turn a Thursday into a Tuesday by tabling its budget on that day, rather than on a Tuesday, as is customary in the House. We hope the Minister of Finance will include measures in this budget to bring down the cost of living so that rents are more affordable and people can continue to pay their mortgages. I also hope the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons will announce legislative measures to ensure that Canadians can keep their jobs and save money. I look forward to my hon. government colleague’s response.”

Statement grade

39 / 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.

Positioning 50%Procedure 41%Claims 10%

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

Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 110 wordsit has been a historic week here in Ottawa.Partly on point It culminated in our annual meeting with our friends and cousins from the European Union, with whom we are now developing deeper ties in order to diversify our foreign trade and provide Canadians with prosperity, quality of life and new employment opportunities for future generations.¹Off pointVague promise Concerning the budget, I am not sure whether my esteemed colleague will like it, Partly on pointbecause it is going to focus on affordability and Canada’s competitiveness. We often see that the Conservatives are not always thrilled with Canada’s success.Off point That said, we continue to act in a spirit of collaboration and reach out to our Conservative friends.PositioningPartly on point Procedure · 90 wordsThis afternoon, we will continue the debate at second reading of Bill C-34.² Tomorrow we will call Bill C-41, the medical assistance in dying safeguards act, ³which was introduced earlier this week.⁴ Monday of next week shall be an opposition day.⁵ On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will begin debate at report stage and third reading of Bill C-31, a second act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025.⁶⁷ On Thursday, we will begin debate on Bill S-5, the connected care for Canadians act, ⁸ProcedureClaims · 21 wordsand at 4 p.m., as my esteemed colleague mentioned, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue will deliver his budget speech.⁹

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.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 9

12 of 18 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 “it has been a historic week here in Ottawa.”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 culminated in our annual meeting with our friends and cousins from the European Union, with whom we are now developing deeper ties in order to diversify our foreign trade and provide Canadians with prosperity, quality of life and new employment opportunities for future generations.”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 “Concerning the budget, I am not sure whether my esteemed colleague will like it,”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 it is going to focus on affordability and Canada’s competitiveness.”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 “We often see that the Conservatives are not always thrilled with Canada’s success.”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 “That said, we continue to act in a spirit of collaboration and reach out to our Conservative friends.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. 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 afternoon, we will continue the debate at second reading of Bill C-34.”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 “Tomorrow we will call Bill C-41, the medical assistance in dying safeguards act,”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 “which was introduced earlier this week.”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 “Monday of next week shall be an opposition day.”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 “On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will begin debate at report stage and third reading of Bill C-31, a second act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025.”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 “On Thursday, we will begin debate on Bill S-5, the connected care for Canadians act,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 35

5 of 18 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 “it has been a historic week here in Ottawa.”A general remark about the past week, not the business being asked about.
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 culminated in our annual meeting with our friends and cousins from the European Union, with whom we are now developing deeper ties in order to diversify our foreign trade and provide Canadians with prosperity, quality of life and new employment opportunities for future generations.”About the EU meeting and foreign trade, not the House’s upcoming business.
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 “Concerning the budget, I am not sure whether my esteemed colleague will like it,”A remark about the colleague’s reaction to the budget, not the measures hoped for or the schedule.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “We often see that the Conservatives are not always thrilled with Canada’s success.”An attack on the Conservatives’ attitude, not an answer about the budget or the schedule.
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 “That said, we continue to act in a spirit of collaboration and reach out to our Conservative friends.”A general comment about collaboration, not the business or measures asked about.

Respect · 100

0 of 18 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 · 57

1 of 18 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 “It culminated in our annual meeting with our friends and cousins from the European Union, with whom we are now developing deeper ties in order to diversify our foreign trade and provide Canadians with prosperity, quality of life and new employment opportunities for future generations.”The statement commits to broad, abstract outcomes without naming specific measures or providing timelines.

Claims · 9

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“our annual meeting with our friends and cousins from the European Union”Canada held its annual meeting with the European Union this week, culminating the week before October 29, 2026.search
2“we will continue the debate at second reading of Bill C-34”On October 29, 2026, the House was to continue second reading debate of Bill C-34.search
3“Tomorrow we will call Bill C-41, the medical assistance in dying safeguards act”Bill C-41, the medical assistance in dying safeguards act, was to be called for debate on October 30, 2026.search
4“which was introduced earlier this week”Bill C-41, the medical assistance in dying safeguards act, was introduced earlier in the week of October 26, 2026.search
5“Monday of next week shall be an opposition day”Monday, November 2, 2026, was designated an opposition day in the House of Commons.search
6“we will begin debate at report stage and third reading of Bill C-31, a second act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025”On November 3 and 4, 2026, the House was to begin report stage and third reading debate of Bill C-31, a second act implementing provisions of the budget tabled on November 4, 2025.search
7“the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025”The federal budget was tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025.search
8“On Thursday, we will begin debate on Bill S-5, the connected care for Canadians act”On Thursday, November 5, 2026, the House was to begin debate on Bill S-5, the connected care for Canadians act.search
9“the Minister of Finance and National Revenue will deliver his budget speech”The Minister of Finance and National Revenue was scheduled to deliver the budget speech on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 4 p.m.search

Analysed on 2026-10-31