What they said. What they meant.

Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.

Recent debates

8 latest topics

Oral Questions

Health

The opposition grilled the government on a $300 million e-prescription program called PrescribeIT that was cancelled due to low uptake. Taxpayers footed huge executive salaries before it was scrapped. The government deflected, saying the program started under the previous government and they made the tough call to end it when it wasn't working.

Official Hansard ↗

Michael Cooper

Conservative
“A program spent $300 million for nothing. The CEO got $1 million a year. The minister is responsible. Will she admit this waste and abuse?”
Our translation 66% shorter

Maggie Chi

Liberal
“A program spent lots of money under the other guys. We kept it going. When it failed we stopped.”
Our translation 74% shorter

Michael Cooper

Conservative
“You spent $300 million. The minister wasn't watching. People got your money. That's bad. I don't like that. I think it's very bad.”
Our translation 68% shorter

Maggie Chi

Liberal
“The program spent money. It didn't work out. We stopped it. We will spend money on other things.”
Our translation 69% shorter

Burton Bailey

Conservative
“The program was bad. It spent a lot. It didn't work. It made our friends money. Now you want to spend more. I want to blame you and stop you.”
Our translation 66% shorter

Maggie Chi

Liberal
“What this means is the Conservative government is going to take money away from programs that aren't working and give it to programs that do work.”
Our translation 58% shorter