Inside Politics

Orders of the Day - Enjoy your constituency week, MPs!

Important parliamentary programming note: The House of Commons stands adjourned this week, which means no QP, no committee meetings, and most likely very little political action within the precinct. Adjust your OotD expectations accordingly. 

On the Hill today: Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission Chief Commissioner David Arnot hits the National Press Theatre to explain the reasoning behind the commission's Supreme Court challenge to a provincial court ruling in favour of William Whatcott, which overturned a lower court ruling that found Whatcott had violated the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code by "circulating flyers using extreme speech directed against gay men." That appeal will be heard tomorrow.

On the leaders' tour: NDP interim leader Nycole Turmel is in Halifax, where she's scheduled to meet with Nova Scotia Premier Darryl Dexter to "discuss the economy," as well as visit a local women's employment centre and attend an open house at the office of local MP - and putative future leadership candidate -- Robert Chisholm.

On the ministerial circuit:

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty speaks at the Richard Ivey School of Business in London; on what may or may not turn out to be a related note, his junior minister, Ted Menzies, is set to make himself available to the media in Calgary later this afternoon.

Elsewhere in Ontario, Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore heads to Niagara-on-the-Lake to join forces with Justice Minister - and, more pertinently on this particular occasion, local MP - Rob Nicholson to unveil the latest news on next year's commemoration of the War of 1812, and Environment Minister Peter Kent pops into Markham for an "important announcement" on improving access for persons with disabilities.

Meanwhile, in Manitoba, Minister of State for Transport Steven Fletcher will be the bearer of glad funding-related tidings during an appearance at the Thompson Airport.

Out on the West Coast, Nicholson's parliamentary secretary, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, will reveal new funding for a Child Advocacy Centre at the offices of Family Services of Greater Vancouver before heading to Cranwest Farms in Delta for an announcement that will benefit the BC agricultural sector.

Moving eastward to Quebec, Industry Minister Christian Paradis shows his - and his government's - support during a visit to the Fruit D'Or plant in Villleroy. 

Finally, up north, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announces support for Nunavut's cultural and tourism sectors. For up to the minute dispatches from the precinct and beyond, keep your eye on the Parliament Hill Ticker below -- or, alternatively, bookmark it and check back throughout the day. 

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Tags: blackberry jungle, orders of the day