Ripped from the ticker: PM, Ignatieff welcome new MPs

9:12: Greetings, tickerwatchers! If you've read today's OotD, you probably won't be surprised to learn that I won't be in the room when the PM addresses his caucus, but I'll be watching via livestream, and share the highlights, if any.

9:27: In case you missed it, I just posted this update to OotD:

Well, it looks like we've got ourselves a glee-off, y'all. I've been told that Liberal staffers are being encouraged to make their new MP feel extra-welcome at today's caucus meeting, presumably in an effort to outdo the unmitigated delight that will be on display at the competing Conservative caucus across the hall. Which leaves only one question, really: Who will be the first to break out the thundersticks?

9:33: Well, I, for one, am shocked: The PM appears to be ... late. For his own caucus meeting.

9:42: And here he is! Oh, listen to that applause! And the chants of "Harper! Harper! Harper!" that always freak me out just a little, regardless of the leader being so lauded.

9:43: It's truly a "great day," he says as he takes the stage -- the government is "taking action" on jobs, crime and the economy -- and Monday's byelection show that Canadians are "fully behind" them. More cheers. More! That, the PM reminds the room, is why they now have two new Conservative MPs -- despite the fact that governments tend to lose, not win seats in byelections. This is the only party that made "net gains" on Monday. (Get used to that oddly technocratic spin -- you'll be hearing it *a lot*.)

9:44: First to be officially welcomed: the New Inky Mark, Robert Sopuck! Who is barely visible as he makes his way through the cheering masses, but seems to pretty darned happy to be there.

9:45: And now, a much, much longer welcome for Julian Fantino, who is, the PM notes, an "expert on public safety." Is he tipping us off on the now seemingly imminent cabinet shuffle? Watch your back, Vic Toews!

9:47: Does it surprise anyone to hear that the welcome for Fantino -- who is now shaking hands with a beaming prime minister -- is an order of magnitude more determinedly deafening than the now all but forgotten Sopuck? Well, it shouldn't. I swear, I think I just heard a kazoo somewhere in the background.

9:47: And as caucus chair Guy Lauzon bids all MPs, new and -- not so new -- welcome to "the best caucus on the Hill," the cameras are swiftly ushered out. Farewell, livestream!

9:56: Don't worry, we'll have more exaggerated ecstatic caucus action in just a few minutes when Michael Ignatieff welcomes *his* shiny new MP.

9:57: Oddly, the NDP has *not* invited reporters to cover their leader's arrival at caucus. I can't imagine why -- oh, right. That.

10:12: According to tweets from the front, reporters have been waved into the Liberal caucus room -- oh, was that the ultimate C/conservative commenter straight line or what? -- and are now awaiting the arrival of their leader and special guest human prop, Winnipeg North MP Kevin Lamoureaux.

10:17: And here we go! Oh, it's great to see the caucus grow, says the chair, amid even more fervent cheers, who notes that they don't want to hear from him -- they want to hear from their leader, and his new best friend from Winnipeg!

10:18: And here they are! Oh, look at that handshake. Wow, the new guy really makes Ignatieff look tall, doesn't he? Also, I foresee much cursing over the number of vowels in his name. Can we agree to style him "Kevin L. from the 'Peg" in future, Borys W-style?

10:20: Ignatieff gives his trademark chuckle, and notes that he guesses he doesn't have to introduce the gentleman in question, and then does so anyway, after characterizing him as "a fighter", prompting cheers of "Kev-in! Kev-in! Kev-in!" Which is every bit as vaguely creepy as the previous exercise in chanting across the hall, although I'll admit to having a visceral reaction to the whole phenomenon. This is why I'm not a sports fan.

10:22: Ignatieff then pays tribute to "another fighter": Tony Genco who "turned an election where the other candidate thought all he had to do was show up" -- and didn't -- into .. a slightly less foregone conclusion of a byelection victory by the other side? The crowd loves it, and Ignatieff then proceeds to laud the party's efforts in all three ridings, including Dauphin - Swan River - Marquette, which he mispronounces twice before managing to spit out. Is that revenge for Kenney's IgNAYtiffing? What did the people of DSRM do to deserve that?

10:23: Another thank you -- with a fistpoundwave -- and that's that, I think. They have, as he reminds the crowd before the cameras leave, "work to do." Which would make for a far more interesting liveblog, but alas, we'll just have to wait for the usual leaks to find out exactly what that means.

10:25: Alright, that's it for the Wonderful Wednesday preshow. Keep watching the ticker for updates as we count down the minutes to Question Period!