After a whirlwind one-day visit to Vancouver to highlight LNG Canada’s decision to double the size of its newly constructed export terminal in Kitimat, B.C., as well as promote his government’s plan to invest more than a billion dollars to boost ocean protection measures, Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in his home province of Alberta, where, according to his office, he’ll “attend and deliver remarks” at a morning event in Edmonton. (9:30 a.m. MT)  

As iPolitics’ own Marco Viglioitti reported yesterday, Carney’s appearance in the provincial capital comes just one day before he’s widely expected to confirm that the proposed pipeline to the West Coast will be designated as a project of national interest, which, as he explains, is the first step towards putting the project on the accelerated approval process laid out in the Building Canada Act.

“A government source, speaking confidentially because they’re not authorized to speak publicly, said the pipeline was discussed during last week’s cabinet meeting, the first of the fall sitting, and multiple government and industry sources confirmed the designation would take place this week,” he notes.

“As part of a deal with Alberta, Ottawa agreed to make the designation before Oct. 1. A provincial government source, also speaking anonymously because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly, told iPolitics that Alberta was expecting movement on the announcement soon as progress is made on developing the line.”

Back in Ottawa, Governor General Louise Arbour “will join residential school Survivors, Indigenous leaders and dignitaries at the
national commemorative gathering to honour the thousands of lives lost or traumatically impacted by the residential school system,” which is set to get underway at noon on the parliamentary front lawn, and will be broadcast live on CBC, Radio Canada and APTN. (12 p.m.)

“The 90-minute ceremony will feature speeches from residential school survivors, elders and Indigenous leaders,” and “guests and participants are encouraged to bring a pair of children’s shoes to place at the front of the stage to honour the children who attended residential schools,” according to Canadian Press.

Earlier in the day, Arbour will participate in the re-raising of the Survivors’ Flag, which, as per the notice from Rideau Hall, “was designed in consultation with Survivors from across Canada, reflects First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultural traditions and serves as a powerful symbol of remembrance.” (8:30 a.m.)

For his part, New Democrat leader Avi Lewis will attend a Halifax-area event hosted by Sipekne’katik First Nation “to honour residential school survivors, their families and those who never returned home.”

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Committee highlights courtesy of our friends at iPoliticsINTEL.