UPDATED: Garneau dropping out of Liberal leadership race? So sources say!

Parliament Hill rolls out the red carpet for French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who is scheduled to arrive in Ottawa later this afternoon for a whirlwind visit, during which he will take part in a late afternoon tete-a-tete with the PM before the pair heads off to the Chateau Laurier for an official dinner.

Meanwhile, New Democrat leader Tom Mulcair continues his Washington tour with a speech at the Woodrow Wilson Centre, which, according to the advisory, will "focus on building a sustainable economy in North America and around the world."

Also hitting the American lecture circuit today: International Affairs Minister Ed Fast, who will "meet with influential business leaders and potential U.S investors" as he delivers the opening speech at "a major investment conference" in New York, during which he will, according to the advisory, "highlight Canada's investment advantage" while "promoting the Harper government's commitment to capitalizing on natural resource development."

Back in the precinct, Liberal leadership candidate Marc Garneau holds a mid-morning press conference.

Although the notice is noticeably light on what, specifically, has inspired today's appearance, it's a good bet that he may be prepared to offer more thoughts on the party's voter registration system, which has come under fire from several candidates, including both Garneau and Trudeau, in recent days due to alleged technical/logistical glitches.

Later today, party officials are expected to decide whether or not to grant the request to extend the deadline by a week.

UPDATE: Or maybe not -- according to Canadian Press, Garneau will announce that he's withdrawing from the leadership race. 

Further bulletins as events warrant! 

INSTA-RE-UPDATE: Okay, it's very nearly official, at least as far as the flood of Garneau sources confirming the news-to-come to every media outlet in tarnation. Interestingly, we're also hearing that he's going to support Trudeau. Make of that what you will. 

Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae, meanwhile, continues his farewell tour with a stop in Manitoba, where he'll take part in an "open conversation" with former Assembly of First Nations national chief Phil Fontaine at the University of Winnipeg, and attend another 'Thanks a Million, Bob' reception with local Liberals.

Also out and about today:

• Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt drops by the Eel River Bar in New Brunswick with fresh federal support for First Nations community infrastructure.
• Back in Ontario, Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose attends an International Women's Day celebration at Google Waterloo, while her caucus colleague Lisa Raitt checks out the site of the future Highway 407 subway station in Vaughan, and Defence Minister Peter MacKay pays a visit to CFB Petawawa, where, alongside local MP Cheryl Gallant, he'll make an announcement.
• Moving west, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson continues to crisscross the country, holding closed-door discussions with unidentified locals on unspecified "criminal justice issues," with today's itinerary bringing him to Regina.
• In Medicine Hat, Western Economic Development Minister Lynne Yelich demonstrates her government's support for the growth of the province's Unmanned Vehicle Systems cluster.
• On the west coast, Environment Minister Peter Kent joins his BC counterpart and Japan's consul general in Vancouver to share news on the ongoing tsunami debris clean-up efforts, and then heads to Methane Expo 2013 to give a keynote speech.
• Elsewhere in the province, Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore shows his government's support for the Tri-Cities area by unveiling new money for local projects, and Associate Defence Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay reiterates the importance of military spending to communities across the country during an "important announcement" at MDA's Richmond outpost.
• Finally, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq treks to Yellowknife to "discuss" the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway project with Inuivaluit Regional Corporation CEO Nellie Cournoyea.