Orders of the Day - Leaving -- again -- so soon, Prime Minister?

Programming note: Due to a (thankfully, nearly complete) research project currently underway, today's OotD will be of the short, but sweet variety. Don't worry, with it being Friday and the House of Commons still on hiatus, there's not that much going on, at least as far as the official agenda.

The PM embarks on a whistlestop tour of South America this morning, during which he will attend the Summit of the Americas in Colombia before heading to Chile to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement. 

Back on the Hill, supporters of University of Ottawa professor Hassan Diab hold a press conference to "address the reality" of the decision by Justice Minister Rob Nicholson to "hand over Canadians" like Diab to foreign states -- in this case, France -- for questioning as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, a move that the group describes as "shocking," given that France has indicated that it is not prepared to put Diab himself on trial.

Across the river in Gatineau, Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan takes the stage at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, where he will outline a new strategy for land management.

Also on the good news circuit today:

Environment Minister Peter Kent reveals Canada's plan -- which will almost certainly be of the "Action!" variety -- to manage greenhouse gas emissions at Groupe Robert Inc. in Boucherville.

A mini-flurry of ministerial appearances will hit the East Coast: Defence Minister Peter MacKay is in his hometown of Pictou for an announcement on RCMP contract policing in Nova Scotia, Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield will "celebrate" new investments in affordable housing in Fredericton, and Revenue Minister Gail Shea is set to unveil additional federal funding for the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown.

Moving west, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz will deliver an announcement of his own at the Hudson Bay Route Association Annual Meeting in Tisdale.

Finally, in Vancouver, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney hosts a roundtable with local financial institutions on attracting immigrant investors, and Minister of State for Transport Steven Fletcher hits Pacific Central Station with new money for Via Rail.

Finally, Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae tours Prince Edward Island accompanied by an entourage of Atlantic Canadian MPs. According to the advisory, the first stop is in Charlottetown, where Rae and company will host a town hall on the state of the fisheries; over the weekend, he'll meet with local seniors in Summerside and address the annual general meeting of the provincial Liberal Party.