After wrapping up the three-day long weekend by cheering on the Montreal Canadiens as they edged out the Buffalo Sabres to secure a spot in the Eastern Conference finals, Prime Minister Mark Carney is booked in for a midday visit to Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Que. to “announce an important initiative to build a stronger, more resilient economy,” according to his itinerary (12:10 p.m.)

While the advisory offers no additional details on the reveal, it’s worth noting that the region is also home to Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Matawinie Mine, which was officially referred to the Major Projects Office last fall — and which, as the Financial Post reported last week,“expects to formally green-light plans this week to build one of North America’s few graphite projects, as countries seek to weaken China’s dominance over the critical mineral.”

Also on the radar: Amid ongoing speculation that Canada’s world-renowned Snowbirds could be spending the next few years on solid ground pending the arrival of a replacement fleet, Defence Minister David McGuinty is finally set to go public with how his government intends to make sure that Canadians “can rest assured that they will be able to enjoy the iconic Snowbird formation for generations to come,” as he pledged in a written statement earlier this month, during a morning visit to the squadron’s home base at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. (10 a.m. CST)

“The defence department and the minister have said little about the future of the Snowbirds in advance of Mr. McGuinty’s news conference,” The Globe and Mail noted yesterday.

“During a news conference in Qatar last week, the minister declined to be more specific about what’s ahead, but he suggested the fate of the Snowbirds has been the subject of considerable thought.”

Over the weekend, Postmedia reported that the Royal Canadian Air Force “examined a proposal to rapidly purchase an interim replacement aircraft for the Snowbirds aerobatic team, but decided against that option, according to government records that suggested the RCAF also considered reducing the number of planes in use.

“Since the Liberal government has announced it will be spending $81.8 billion on defence over the next five years, some in the Canadian Forces expect that McGuinty will announce that the Snowbirds will be receiving new aircraft,” the story notes.

During the planned post-reveal back-and-forth with reporters, McGuinty will likely also be asked about United States Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby’s announcement that the U.S. “is pausing the Permanent Joint Board on Defense to reassess how this forum benefits shared North American defense,” which he attributed to Canada having “failed to make credible progress on its defense commitments.”

In response to a request for comment from CBC News, McGuinty noted that the two countries Canada and the U.S. “have a long history of robust co-operation and collaboration on continental defence,” and “provided a list of new government spending commitments for the Canadian Armed Forces, including military investments across the North and procurement of new under-ice submarines,” the broadcaster reported last night.

“Canada will work with trusted partners who are ready to work with us, always remaining ready to come to the table for constructive discussions about the best ways to strengthen mutual defence and security,” the minister added.

Also making the rounds in Saskatchewan:

• Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, who, according to his office, will stop by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Organization at the University of Saskatchewan and host a round of “stakeholder consultations” before taking a “site tour” at K+S Potash.
•  Women and Gender Equality Minister Rechie Valdez will be at the Saskatoon, Sask. headquarters of Ginette Luxurycrafts to share the details of a fresh tranche of federal support earmarked for groups that help Black entrepreneurs. (9 a.m. MDT)

Later tonight, MacDonald will join Canadian Identity Minister Marc Miller and Secretary of State (Rural Development) Buckley Belanger at a reception at a “private residence” in Regina, Sask., with all proceeds from the $250 ticket price earmarked for the Regina–Lewvan Federal Liberal Association. (5:30 p.m. CST)

Meanwhile, Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski is booked in for a mid-morning appearance at the Edmonton Convention Centre to outline a fresh bid by her government to boost what the advisory describes as “Alberta’s growing Artificial Intelligence sector,” including “AI initiatives to help businesses research, commercialize and scale-up across Alberta.” (11:15 a.m. MT)

Moving still further west to Esquimalt, B.C., Secretary of State (Seniors) Stephanie McLean will highlight a new “investment to protect whales in Canadian waters,” which, as per the advisory, was included in the Spring Economic Update. (11 a.m. PT)

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson treks to Hope Bay, Nunavut, to deliver what his office is billing as a “a significant mining announcement.” (12:25 p.m. NT)

Elsewhere on the northern circuit, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly will promote her government’s newly launched Defence Industrial Strategy during an evening event hosted by the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce. (5 p.m. MT)

Rounding out the roster, Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty drops by the Val-D’or Regional Airport with fresh federal funding earmarked for runway rehabilitation. (11 a.m.)

IN THE CHAMBER

Regular parliamentary programming will resume on May 25, 2026.

OUTSIDE THE PRECINCT

After wrapping up two days of high-level closed-door talks with his G7 counterparts in Paris — which, according to his office, provided an “opportunity to advance work on shared global challenges,” as well as “lay the groundwork” for the upcoming G7 leaders’ summit in Évian in June — Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is set to take part in the the No Money for Terror Ministerial Conference — which, according to the programme, “will assess terrorism financing in a global context with a focus on international cooperation to tackle this transnational security issue” — before holding a media callback to recap his trip. (10:30 a.m.)

FRESH FROM iPOLITICS

HOT OFF THE WIRES

Committee highlights courtesy of our friends at iPoliticsINTEL.