For the first time since the release of updated economic data that the Conservatives are citing as evidence of a “Liberal recession,” Prime Minister Mark Carney will be in his front-and-centre seat in the chamber to face his cross-aisle critics this afternoon.

According to his itinerary, he’s also set to join his Liberal colleagues as they gather for their weekly caucus huddle and speak at a midday “farewell reception” for departing vice-regal regent Mary Simon and her husband, Whit Fraser, whose tenure at Rideau Hall will officially come to an end next week. (12:20 p.m.)

Later tonight, he’ll take part in what his office is billing as a “featured conversation” co-hosted by the Ontario Global 100 and Quebec Global 100, which, as per the notice, will focus on “Canada’s economic strategy,” and is listed as “closed to media.” (5:30 p.m.)

Back in the chamber, MPs are slated to circle back to Justice Minister Sean Fraser’s omnibus bid to strengthen laws related to gender-based violence, boost child protection protocols and address issues stemming from court delays, which was reported back from committee with amendments last week and is now on track to begin the next phase of debate this afternoon.

Also on the docket: A make-or-break vote on whether to give Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne’s second omnibus budget bill the green light to proceed to committee for further review — or, alternately, support a Conservative-initiated call to reject it on the grounds that it “fails to address meaningfully the cost of living crisis.”

Earlier this week, House of Commons Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia served notice that a separate vote will be held on the section of the bill that lays out proposed changes to the current system for handling complaints against air carriers.

Later this afternoon, Champagne will field questions on his pitch to roll out measures unveiled in the spring economic update during a one-hour session with members of the Senate NATIONAL FINANCE committee, which is currently conducting a preliminary review of the bill as it works its way through the House of Commons. (6:45 p.m.)

Elsewhere on committee circuit: Secretary of State (Defence Procurement) Stephen Fuhr heads to NATIONAL DEFENCE to provide more details on the “impact” of his government’s newly launched Defence Industrial Strategy, with senior officials with the Defence Investment Agency, as well as Industry and Public Works and Government Services also expected to be at the table. (4:30 p.m.)

Also on the radar: New Democrat MPs Jenny Kwan and Heather McPherson join Canadians who took part in the recent Global Sumad Flotilla mission to Gaza, who, as per the notice, “will share their first-hand experience and mistreatment by Israeli officials.” (9 a.m.)

Bloc Québécois MP Marilène Gill, Manawan Chief Sipi Flamand and Amnesty International representative Colette Lelièvre will highlight the ongoing housing shortage in First Nations and Indigenous communities. (1 p.m.)

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will share her thoughts — and, most likely, concerns — about the “proposed pipeline routes across British Columbia,” as outlined in a recent CBC News report, which cited internal Alberta government documents that “were shown to local community leaders during private consultations on the proposed project” earlier this year.  (1:30 p.m.)

ON AND AROUND THE HILL

• The leaders of “Canada’s largest environmental and conservation organizations,” including Environmental Defence, Equiterre, Sierra Club Canada, Ecojustice, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and World Wildlife Fund Canada, hit the West Block press theatre in what the advisory describes as a “a show of force against the federal government’s rollbacks of environmental protections and climate policies.” (9 a.m.)
• Senior representatives of the Frontier Duty Free Association — executive director Barbara Barrett, president Tania Lee and Eastern Region vice-president Philippe Bachand — release new data that, as per the notice, shows that cross-border travel between Canada and the United States “have sustained lows with the ongoing trade and tariff conflict,” and urge the government to “take targeted regulatory action that restores fairness and ensures these small export businesses are not left behind.” (8:30 a.m.)
• Also this morning: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation releases “updated data and analysis on municipal development charges and fees,” as well as “new modelling to assess how these charges affect housing project viability.” (10 a.m.)

OUTSIDE THE PRECINCT

Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson shares the details of new federal funding to “support Canada’s forest sector” before joining his provincial and territorial counterparts at the annual meeting of the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers in Langford, B.C., where, as CTV News reports, the high-level closed door discussions are expected to focus on “wildfire recovery, forest health and the future of the forestry sector.” (8 a.m. PT)

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