Inside Politics

OotD: So, about that Canadian Ukrainian election monitoring team, Prime Minister...

As Hill denizens delve through the details of the second -- and, at least as far as this fiscal year, likely final -- omnibudget bill, which dropped yesterday morning but isn't scheduled to be brought forward for debate until next week, the House will resume second reading consideration of the government's latest proposals to tweak Canada's anti-terrorism law.

Meanwhile, the PM heads across the river to what the advisory calls "The Future Canadian Museum of History," where he's scheduled to deliver a rousing send-off speech at a training session for Canada's Ukraine election observers, but will almost certainly find himself fielding questions on allegations that his government has been "injecting domestic partisan politics into the staffing of the 500-member team."

That team, it seems, includes embattled Etobicoke Centre Conservative still-an-MP-for-now Ted Opitz, currently waiting to find out if the Supreme Court will uphold an Ontario court ruling that overturned his 2011 electoral victory due to voting irregularities.

Also out and about on the ministerial circuit today:

  • Fundy Royal Conservative MP Rob Moore attends the official opening of the PotashCorp Civic Centre in Sussex.
  • Industry Minister Christian Paradis drops by the Canadian Space Centre in Saint-Hubert, where he will "unveil the space agency's fleet of rovers," which, as the advisory explains, are "pioneer terrestrial versions of the robots that may one day roam the surface of the Moon or Mars." Mars! Robots! Imagine the possibilities!
  • Labour Mnister Lisa Raitt joins Oakville Conservative MP Terence Young for an "announcement" at the local GO Station
  • Elsewhere in Ontario, local Conservative MP Gord Brown will impart, on behalf of Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, official "recognition" of "an important achievement in energy management practices that demonstrates cost savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions" at 3M Canada's Brockville "tape facility."
  • Speaking of tape, Treasury Board President will discuss the reduction of the red variety before an audience of Edmonton entrepreneurs at an event marking Small Business Week.
  • Moving still more westward, International Trade Minister Ed Fast takes his pro-Canada-Europe trade boosterism to British Columbia, where he's slated for a "national funding announcement" at Eurocentres Vancouver before trekking to Surrey to "celebrate progress" on a rail corridor.
  • Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose joins cabinet colleague James Moore at the Vancouver Shipyards, where the duo will "celebrate a milestone achievement" at an official groundbreaking ceremony. Earlier in the day, Moore will make a solo appearance at Stratford Hall, where he will screen the new War of 1812-themed Heritage Minute.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, Liberal MPs Stephane Dion and Justin Trudeau unveil the party's proposal for redistributing "all districts" on the island, which will be presented to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Quebec later today.

According to the advisory, still more Quebec Liberal MPs -- Denis Coderre, Irwin Cotler, Massimo Pacetti and Francis Scarpaleggia -- will be on hand to "make specific representations relative to their constituencies."

Finally, interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae is in Regina.

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. 

Mobile-friendly auto-updating text feed available here

NOTE: Updates added in reverse chronological (newer to older) order.



Tags: blackberry jungle, orders of the day