As the countdown to the latest U.S.-imposed tariff deadline shifts from weeks to days, Secretary of State (Small Business) Rechie Valdez is heading to Kingston, where, according to her office, she’ll “highlight new measures to directly support small businesses involved in federal procurement through the Buy Canadian Policy” during a morning visit to Sphere Manufacturing, which “specializes in complete sheet metal fabrication, including steel, aluminum, stainless steel, copper and brass.” (9 a.m.)

Meanwhile, Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty will drop by the Northwest Territories RCMP Headquarters in Yellowknife to unveil fresh federal funding for “initiatives that support volunteer search and rescue organizations across Canada.” (10 a.m. MDT)  

ON AND AROUND THE HILL

A delegation of what the advisory describes as “Canadian human rights advocates, academics and community leaders,” including senior representatives of the World Sikh Organization of Canada, National Council of Canadian Muslims, Hindus for Human Rights and Justice for All Canada, hit the West Block press theatre to promote their call for the government to “urgently review the admissibility of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat ahead of his reported visit to Toronto later this month,” and outline the “growing
concerns surrounding the RSS, its political influence in India, documented abuses affecting minority communities and the overall implications of Bhagwat’s reported visit for Canada.” (11 a.m.)

Also in the precinct today: Conservative MP Dean Allison will deliver what his office is billing as a “major announcement” on his plan to chair four days of public hearings to hear from “Canadians injured by a Covid-19 vaccine,” which, as per the notice, “has sparked international attention,” and is currently slated to get underway next month. (10 a.m.)

IN THE CHAMBER

Both the House of Commons and the Senate have shut down for the summer, with regular parliamentary proceedings set to resume in September.

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Committee highlights courtesy of our friends at iPoliticsINTEL.