Analysis · Question Period answer · beta

Carlos Leitão

Liberal on Finance 2026-11-06

76 words · 6 sentences · 6 clauses

Replying to Jacques Gourde (Conservative)

“Mr. Speaker, we cannot become masters of our destiny by mortgaging our grandchildren’s future. Canadians are trapped by Liberal debt. The projected deficit for the next five years is $288.7 billion, just for government operations, bringing the total to $1.593 trillion. When will the Liberal government start thinking about returning to a balanced budget?”

Statement grade

Average 75 / 100

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

Reasoning 42%Procedure 12%Positioning 16%Claims 30%

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

Mr. Speaker, Reasoning · 14 wordsit has been said before that we should not be obsessed with balanced budgets. Procedure · 9 wordsNow is not the time to get into that.Procedure Positioning · 12 wordsI, too, want to ensure that my grandchildren have a bright future.Positioning Claims · 23 wordsThat is where we are going with two-thirds of our financial support measures.Vague promise Two-thirds will go toward supporting the economy and increasing investment.¹ Reasoning · 18 wordsInvesting in our new economy is how we are going to ensure a bright future for our grandchildren.Partly on point

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 67

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.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Now is not the time to get into that.”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 “I, too, want to ensure that my grandchildren have a bright future.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 56

4 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.

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, too, want to ensure that my grandchildren have a bright future.”About caring for grandchildren’s future, not about returning to a balanced budget.
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 is where we are going with two-thirds of our financial support measures.”Describes where the support measures are going, not the balanced-budget question.
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 “Two-thirds will go toward supporting the economy and increasing investment.”About the split of support measures and investment, not the deficit question.
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 “Investing in our new economy is how we are going to ensure a bright future for our grandchildren.”Offers investment in the new economy as its own approach instead of answering on a balanced budget.

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 · 76

1 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.

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “That is where we are going with two-thirds of our financial support measures”It commits the government to a direction with no measure, date or success condition named.

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“Two-thirds will go toward supporting the economy and increasing investment”Two-thirds of the government’s financial support measures will go toward supporting the economy and increasing investment.search

Analysed on 2026-11-07