OotD: Omnibudget 2 - Second verse, same as the first?

As highlighted on the Hill Ticker late last night, today's Notice Paper reveals that the much-anticipated fall omnibudget debate will soon be upon us. Word has it that the bill itself will be introduced tomorrow, with second reading expected to kick off on Friday.

In the interim, opposition MPs will doubtless be only too pleased to speculate on its still-unknown contents during post-caucus scrums. Here in the OotD prediction corner, however, we're in the distinct minority that expects it to be somewhat less sweeping than its predecessor, at least as far as the scope of amendments proposed; it may, as rumoured, be longer, but page count alone isn't sufficient to determine what the impact will be. In any case, even if Omnibudget II doesn't roam quite as far afield from traditional budgetary measures as the first iteration, it will almost certainly spark similar levels of controversy -- not to mention parliamentary cantankerousness. Let the filiblustering begin! 

Meanwhile, out and about on the Hill media circuit today:

The "newly formed" All Party Anti-Poverty Caucus convenes a public forum to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

New Democrat MPs Lysanne Blanchette-Lamothe and Helene LeBlanc hit the Centre Block press theatre to launch a new campaign to raise awareness of poverty amongst seniors.

Meanwhile, the Trade Justice Network hosts a media teleconference with European trade experts Jeremie Zimmermann, Gabriella Zanzanaini and Peter Fuchs, who, according to the advisory, will "describe why the Canada-EU free trade negotiations are increasingly controversial in Europe, with special attention to the proposed deal's copyright and Internet proposals, the investor-state dispute settlement process, and Canada's pressure on the EU to weaken traditional protections for public services, notably drinking water delivery."

Later this afternoon, Canada 2020 will host a discussion of a particularly pertinent topic -- "Buying Canada: Strategic Industries, state-owned enterprises and the national interest" -- with TomD'Aquino, Wenran Jiang, Charles Burton and Laura Dawson slated as panelists.

Finally, the Ernest C. Manning Foundation hands out the National Innovation Awards during a gala dinner, and the Canadian Medical Association honours its 2012 picks for superior health reporting.

Outside the precinct:

• Public Safety Minister Vic Toews drops by Algonquin College to unveil a "government cyber security" initiative.
• Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan heads to Cornwall for a celebratory signing ceremony with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne.
• After delivering "short remarks" to local entrepreneurs at Ottawa-based Adobe Systems Canada, Minister of State for Small Business Maxime Bernier will take part in a "fireside chat."
• Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae treks to Kingston for a Q&A with Queen's University students, and then heads to the Grad Club for pub night with the local students' Liberal association.