Orders of the Day - So, about those F-35 fighter jets...

The traditionally sleepy Friday morning session of Question Period is already shaping up to be a far more rancorous outing than usual, thanks to an as-yet-unconfirmed -- and, in fact, at press time,  officially denied -- PostMedia report on the alleged demise of the F-35 fighter jet contract.

Although the status of the project remains murky, the alleged revelation was, it seems, sufficiently significant to inspire interim Liberal leader Bob Rae to arrange a pre-QP media availability from Toronto to share his thoughts on "the reported cancellation" of the contract.
It's a safe bet that he won't be the only opposition member trooping before the cameras today, before and after QP. 

Meanwhile, in non-F-35-related news, later this afternoon the Chamber is slated to take up report stage consideration of Conservative backbench MP Russ Hiebert's bid to impose more rigorous disclosure requirements on unions and other labour organizations, which has garnered the enthusiastic, if unofficial, support of the government. Depending on what happens this afternoon, the bill could be ready for third reading approval next Wednesday, although it's more likely it will have to wait until the House returns from the winter recess.

Out and about outside the precinct:

Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver drops by Carleton University with a fresh dose of federal funding for "southern Ontario's future innovators," while in Gananoque, Minister of State for Transport Steven Fletcher shares glad tidings with supporters of the Thousand Islands Playhouse.

Also hitting the Ontario good news circuit today: Kitchener-Waterloo Conservative MP Peter Braid, who hits the Perimeter Institute to share the details of a new program to "encourage youth to pursue careers in science", and his backbench caucus colleague from Sarnia Lambton, Patricia Davidson, who heads to the Blue Water Bridge commercial operations lobby with good news on border delay reductions for "trusted traders."

In Quebec City, Veterans Affairs Minister Steve Blaney attends the Team Spirit Awards at the Spring Quebec 2012 Cross Country World Cup on behalf of his absent colleague, Minister of State for Sport Bal Gosal.

Moving west, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz unveils a new initiative under "Growing Forward 2" during a speech to the Alberta Barley Commission in Banff.

Finally, Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose heads back to her home riding to "proceed with an important announcement" on the Spruce Grove TriVillage Commons Gymnastics Facility, where, given her key role in the ongoing fighter jet procurement process, she may well find herself facing a flurry of questions on the fate of the F-35 contract. 

The Government has received the report from KPMG and is reviewing it. The Government will be providing a comprehensive public update before the House rises.