Question Period - Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Question Period session with 6 exchanges between Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC) and Right Hon. Mark Carney (Prime Minister, Lib.). Average Question Rigor: 79. Average PM Spin: 65.
SESSION OVERVIEW
Pierre Poilievre
Leader of Opposition
(82%)
Question Rigor
SPINHIGH
SPIN
Mark Carney
Prime Minister
(65%)
Answer Directness
Pierre Poilievre
Leader of the Opposition
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister just appointed another Trudeau-era minister who destroyed our immigration system and helped drive up the cost of living. This same minister, who is responsible for heritage, just said this morning that he is fed up with the debate on the decline of the French language. The Conservatives are not fed up. We will defend the French language. Of all the Liberal members the Prime Minister could have appointed, why did he appoint someone who is fed up with defending the French language and Quebec culture?”
Clarity & specificity
85%
B — The question is clear and specific, focusing on the appointment of a minister and the implications for the French language.
Question Factors
- •Clear specific ask about ministerial appointment
- •References to previous statements
- •Focus on cultural implications
Mark Carney
Prime Minister
“Mr. Speaker, the government is keeping immigration levels under control. The number of asylum seekers—”
How directly answered
62%
Sharp question met with total deflection.
D- — The answer does not address the question and pivots to immigration levels.
Answer Factors
- •Complete deflection from the actual question
- •No engagement with the specific concerns raised
- •Generic talking points about immigration
Pierre Poilievre
Leader of the Opposition
“Mr. Speaker, my question was about the statement made by his new minister, who said he was fed up with the debate on the decline of the French language. The Prime Minister's response shows that we should all be concerned about the decline of the French language. Of all the Liberal members, why did he choose to appoint someone who is fed up with defending the French language and Quebec culture?”
Clarity & specificity
82%
B- — The question is clear but could be more focused on the implications of the minister's statement.
Question Factors
- •Clear reference to a specific statement
- •Direct question about the minister's appointment
- •Context provided about the French language issue
Mark Carney
Prime Minister
“Mr. Speaker, I support my new minister and I do not agree with the Leader of the Opposition, who is against the $4-billion action plan for the French language. He is against investments in Quebec's cultural sector. He is against increasing francophone immigration to Canada. We are standing up for the French language. We are standing up for a great Canada.”
How directly answered
62%
Question clear, answer evasive and unrelated.
D- — The answer deflects and does not engage with the specific question asked.
Answer Factors
- •Ignores the specific concern about the minister's attitude
- •Focuses on unrelated achievements
- •No engagement with the question's context
Pierre Poilievre
Leader of the Opposition
“Mr. Speaker, we learned today that eight months after the Prime Minister was elected, promising to build nation-building projects at speeds not seen in generations, he has not even begun consulting with first nations people about his promised pipeline to the Pacific. Now the Assembly of First Nations has condemned his plan because he has not done any consulting with them. Today, he will address the assembly. Will he for once say one thing, no matter the group he is speaking to, and be clear that he wants the pipeline to get built and that he will get the consultations done to make it happen?”
Clarity & specificity
92%
A- — The question is clear and specific, asking directly about the Prime Minister's commitment to consultations regarding the pipeline.
Question Factors
- •Clear specific ask
- •Cites evidence of lack of consultation
- •Directly addresses the Prime Minister's previous promises
Mark Carney
Prime Minister
“Mr. Speaker, the great thing about Hansard is that it can be consulted to find out what the member opposite said last week. In effect, would we ram through a pipeline? No, never. We will consult, for free, prior and informed consent, with first nations. We will work with the Province of British Columbia. We have conditions in the MOU with Alberta. We know how to work with the provinces. We know how to consult. We know how to respect. Does the member opposite?”
How directly answered
67%
Solid question, but PM sidestepped the commitment.
D+ — The answer acknowledges the need for consultation but avoids addressing the specific ask about the Prime Minister's commitment.
Answer Factors
- •Partially acknowledges the question
- •Deflects to general principles of consultation
- •Does not directly answer the specific ask
Want the worst 5 dodges every Friday? Join the newsletter or subscribe here:
Pierre Poilievre
Leader of the Opposition
“Mr. Speaker, transcripts are great things. The Prime Minister just renamed Justin Trudeau's immigration minister to cabinet: the guy who destroyed our immigration system and helped double the housing costs in this country. The minister has now had something to say about the Prime Minister's failure to consult on pipelines. He said that the consultation should have started yesterday, and it cannot be done on a desktop, making reference to his fellow minister's promise that they would do consultations by Zoom. Why is it that the Prime Minister did not start consulting first nations eight months ago? Is it because he does not care what they have to say, or is it because he just does not want the pipeline to get built?”
Clarity & specificity
85%
B — The question is clear and specific, addressing the Prime Minister's failure to consult and linking it to the housing crisis and immigration minister's comments.
Question Factors
- •Clear specific ask regarding consultation timing
- •References to relevant evidence and context
- •Engages with the Prime Minister's previous statements
Mark Carney
Prime Minister
“Mr. Speaker, I recognize that this situation is very complicated for the member opposite. First off, we have to have a pipeline project. We have to have a private proponent. In order for that to happen, we had to create the conditions precedent. We have now done that, because we talked to the provinces and we worked with the provinces. In the Building Canada Act, which was passed before the member opposite returned to this House, we set out the consultation process for nation-building projects.”
How directly answered
65%
Sharp question met with vague deflection.
D — The answer acknowledges the complexity but does not directly address the question about consultation with first nations.
Answer Factors
- •Vague acknowledgment of the situation
- •Focuses on pipeline conditions rather than consultation
- •Avoids engaging with the specific timeline asked
Pierre Poilievre
Leader of the Opposition
“Mr. Speaker, he has broken his promise to get big projects built, and now we learn that he has broken his promise to get houses built. He promised, during the election, that he would double home building to 500,000 units per year. Today, the Parliamentary Budget Officer revealed that his brand new bureaucracy will build only 5,000 homes per year, 99% fewer than he promised. After Conservatives built well over 200,000 homes at half the cost of today, why will the Prime Minister not listen to us and stop building bureaucracy so that we can start building homes?”
Clarity & specificity
85%
B — The question is clear and specific, citing evidence from the Parliamentary Budget Officer and making a direct ask about the Prime Minister's actions.
Question Factors
- •Clear reference to broken promises
- •Specific evidence cited
- •Direct question about stopping bureaucracy
Mark Carney
Prime Minister
“Mr. Speaker, the great thing about someone being a lifelong member of Parliament is that they have never built anything and they do not know numbers. They do not even read the PBO report where it says we will contribute to projects containing 86,868 units, at $130,000 a unit. That is what we are doing.”
How directly answered
65%
Sharp question met with personal attack.
D+ — The answer deflects and attacks the questioner without addressing the core issue.
Answer Factors
- •Attacks the questioner instead of answering
- •Dismisses the evidence without engagement
- •Focuses on personal critique rather than substance
Pierre Poilievre
Leader of the Opposition
“Mr. Speaker, the only thing that member built when he was the governor of the Bank of England was the housing crisis in that country. Then he built a tax haven in the Caribbean so he would not have to pay the same taxes he imposes on the Canadian people. Our youth need homes, jobs and hope. The Prime Minister offers them only broken promises and more sacrifices. He even held a photo op in front of a house that was dismantled after he left it. Here we have a Prime Minister whose houses disappear after he announces them and whose promises disappear after he makes them.”
Clarity & specificity
65%
D — Question lacks a clear ask and is mostly rhetorical.
Question Factors
- •Rhetorical framing
- •Lack of specific question
- •Focus on attacks rather than inquiry
Mark Carney
Prime Minister
“Mr. Speaker, the house in that announcement was sent to Nunavut. Nunavut is one of the territories of this great country. Nunavut is more than just a place to fly in, make a photo op and not speak to the Premier of Nunavut. Nunavut is where we are building 700 houses under Build Canada Homes, houses that are cheaper, houses that are more efficient, houses that will work for the economy.”
How directly answered
70%
Rhetoric over substance; PM sidesteps key issues.
C- — Answer partially addresses the topic but avoids the core question.
Answer Factors
- •Mentions housing but does not address the criticism
- •Focuses on a related topic
- •No engagement with the specific claims made
Like grading politicians? Get the Top 5 every Friday.
The week's worst dodges, delivered free to your inbox.