Though still divided on Canada's role in Afghanistan after 2011, there appears to be one subject on which the country's political leaders agree universally: the engagement of Prince William to his longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton.

"I think it's exciting!" declared NDP Leader Jack Layton, when asked for his reaction outside the House of Commons. "It's a happy news! Normally when you watch the news you don't get to see that much happy stuff going on. We wish them well!"

"They're such a nice young couple!" Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff declared, when asked for his thoughts on the engagement.

"They look great! They look happy! Reminds me of when I got engaged. It's nice," he said, smiling broadly.

Liberal MP Marlene Jennings made what might be considered the world's worst apology Monday when she apologized to Defence Minister Peter MacKay for calling him "a slime."

Seems Jennings was overcome by frustration, or something, as MacKay answered a couple of questions put to him by Jennings's colleague, MP Marc Garneau, about the Conservatives' plan to spend $16 billion on new F-35 fighter jets.

MacKay's answers displeased Jennings, prompting her to unleash the most cutting of insults.

Emirates Airline is going on the offensive to "rebut the myths" surrounding its rejected bid to increase daily flights from the United Arab Emirates into Toronto with a new two-page backgrounder.

"Canada and Emirates Airline. Busting Myths. A reasonable request" lays it all out: seven myths put forward by Air Canada ("Emirates is subsidised," "Emirates gets free fuel and discounted airport fees") and corresponding "facts" to debunk them ("Emirates has been profitable every in every year but one," "Emirates procures fuel at market rates")

Scattered throughout are quotes from major players meant to back up Emirates' position, including British Airways CEO Willie Walsh and WestJet CEO Gregg Saretsky.

The backgrounder is the latest public relations tool in a heated campaign to gain increased landing rights.

(Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

It's Nov. 10. How thick is YOUR moustache?

That's right. We're 10 days into Movember, the month-long initiative during which clean- shaven men across the country grow moustaches and seek sponsors to raise money for Prostate Cancer Canada.

Sounds easy enough.

But what if your moustache isn't growing quite as quickly, or as lustrously, as you'd have hoped?

Enter: the team at CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning, which on Wednesday turned to the one man we can all agree has "the most famous moustache in the Nation's Capital" - NDP Leader Jack Layton.

Happy "Take Our Kids to Work Day!"

To celebrate, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has taken not his own kids, but somebody else's, to the Hill with him.

So who is Harper's lucky companion? She's Grade 9 student and aspiring archaeologist Melanie Lynn Renn, of Yarmouth, N.S., who beat out seven other finalists to become the "Grand Prize winner" of the Learning Partnership's "Ultimate Dream Job Contest 2010."

At 8:04 a.m. ET, Harper and Renn emerged from 24 Sussex Dr., he in a black overcoat, she in a grey peacoat with a blue backpack slung over her right shoulder. (The PM wasn't carrying a bag - does he have people to do that sort of thing for him?)

After waving to the paps, the two walked down the residence's three stairs to a black Cadillac limousine, where a female staff member waited to open Renn's door. Renn was seen doing up her seatbelt. Less than a minute later, the car took its place in the four-vehicle motorcade and headed off, presumably, to Parliament Hill.

Renn's day is set to include a meeting with Speaker of the House of Commons Peter Milliken, as well as tours of the Hill, National Gallery of Canada, Royal Canadian Mint and Canadian Museum of Civilization.

No word on what Renn will be doing while on the Hill, or if she'll be commenting on the potential Potash takeover.

Update: Renn had a chance to sit at the PM's desk, PMO reports!

From my colleague Allie Elwell:

With Halloween behind us, it now comes time to celebrate prostate cancer awareness month with the launch of "Movember". The catch? To participate, one has to either grow or shave his moustache.

On Monday, the infamous moustached NDP MP Peter Stoffer was the victim, dragged into the foyer of the House of Commons to the sound of cheering staffers and parliamentarians. With no shaving cream to start, fellow caucus colleague Glenn Thibeault hacked away.

"Naked, I feel naked," said a clean-shaven Stoffer. "My mojo's gone, this hasn't seen sunshine in many, many years."

This is only the second time Stoffer's been sans-moustache since he was 16 years old. But when asked to be a "Momber of Parliament", he had few hesitations.

"I figured why not? Anything to raise awareness for prostate cancer," said Stoffer. "If shaving off my moustache adds one further dollar to that cause then it's well worth it."

A release sent out by Liberal MP and Movember champion Justin Trudeau said 4,400 Canadian men die from prostate cancer a year and one in six men will be diagnosed in their lifetime.

About a dozen MPs have volunteered to be "Mombers" this month, including Tory Larry Miller, who's 'stash was shaved last Friday by Trudeau.

So stay tuned for some inevitably hilarious moustaches to come.