After fulfilling their pledge to ensure swift passage for the minority Liberal government’s plan to rebrand — and temporarily boost — the GST rebate with the rollout of the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, the Conservatives are set to force a full day of debate — and, eventually, a vote — on their party’s competing pitch to address the rising cost of groceries.

As per the non-binding motion on deck for today, their proposed ‘Food Affordability Plan’ would include removing “hidden taxes on food,” including the “industrial carbon tax on farm equipment, fertilizer and food processors,” as well as the “fuel standards tax” and the “food packaging tax,” as well as taking steps to “boost competition in our overly concentrated grocery sector.”

Opposition members will also get the chance to cross-examine Prime Minister Mark Carney when he takes his front-and-centre seat in the chamber for question period.

Also on Carney’s agenda: His regularly-scheduled Tuesday morning huddle with his front bench team.

Later this afternoon, he’ll join current and former MPs from all parties, as well as House of Commons Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia, assorted dignitaries, VIPs and other invited guests, for the unveiling of the official portrait of his predecessor once removed: former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who will also be in attendance. (4 p.m.)

Also on the radar: Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is booked in for a one-hour appearance at FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT as committee members explore the propose changes to the export and import system outlined in Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne’s plan to roll out measures unveiled in his inaugural budget last fall. (3:30 p.m.)

The 641-page bill is also under review at GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND ESTIMATES, where MPs are going through the fine print of their House-assigned sections of the legislation, including sections on proposed changes to Canada Post, as well as giving new powers to ministers to “grant temporary exemptions from the application of provisions of certain Acts of Parliament and instruments with the aim of facilitating the design, modification or administration of regulatory regimes to encourage innovation, competitiveness or economic growth,” with senior Treasury Board Secretariat officials and Public Service Alliance of Canada president Sharon DeSousa expected to be at the table this afternoon. (3:30 p.m.)

The Senate NATIONAL FINANCE committee is also conducting a preliminary examination of the bill, and have scheduled a briefing session with interim Parliamentary Budget Officer Jason Jacques and his team. (9 a.m.)

ON AND AROUND THE HILL

Generation Squeeze founder Paul Kershaw hits the West Block press theatre to highlight a new video featuring “a group of retirees” who are “publically asking Parliament to modernize Old Age Security by reducing benefits for those who do not need the full subsidy,” a move that the group contends “could free up billions of dollars annually to eliminate seniors’ poverty and strengthen investments in housing, post-secondary education, and child care without raising tax rates.” (9:30 a.m.)

Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights representatives sound the alarm over a new report on the “real-world consequences of Canada’s proposed cuts to international assistance.” (10 a.m.)

Rounding out the roster, Fisheries and Oceans Canada officials will hold a virtual technical briefing on the Whalesafe Fishing Gear Strategy. (9 a.m.) 

OUTSIDE THE PRECINCT

Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions) Wayne Long joins a full contingent of capital-area Liberal MPs for a midday visit to the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre to share the details of “renewed financial support” for community groups that organize tax clinics to “assist vulnerable Canadians,” as noted in the advisory. (12 p.m.)

Governor General Mary Simon makes the rounds at the Arctic Frontiers Conference in Tromsø, Norway, where, according to her office, she’ll “deliver the opening remarks at a fireside chat and youth-led dialogue featuring Indigenous women who are bringing a transformative leadership to Arctic policy and diplomacy” and give a “keynote address” on the “current state of Arctic affairs and the prospects for future collaboration.”

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