With just four sitting days left on the clock before the House of Commons powers down for a two-week hiatus, the minority Liberal government is poised to launch the final phase in its months-long push to pass Justice Minister Sean Fraser’s bid to expand the current federal hate crime laws, which, after a prolonged cross-aisle standoff at committee, is set to begin report stage debate later today.

Earlier this month, the government successfully laid the procedural groundwork to establish a strict timeline for the remaining debate, courtesy of a motion adopted — with the backing of the Bloc Québécois and over the adamant and ongoing objections of the Conservatives — that allows for just one sitting day each for report stage and third reading.

Also on the docket: Three new reports from Auditor General Karen Hogan — which, as per her office, include the results of her investigation into whether Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada “was effectively implementing reforms to the International Student Program,” an overview of the government’s ongoing efforts towards “modernizing the pay system” for federal public servants and an update on whether the RCMP “recruited and posted new regular members in a timely and effective way to meet operational requirements,” as well as “special examinations” of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority and VIA Rail Canada Inc. — will be tabled in the House of Commons this morning. (11 a.m.)

As has become standard practice, Hogan and her team are booked in for a post-release briefing session at PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, where they will provide an overview on the latest findings (11 a.m.), with Hogan herself also slated to make herself available to reporters later this afternoon. (1 p.m.)

Meanwhile, a trio of key Team Carney front benchers — Government Transformation Minister Joël Lightbound, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree — will hit the West Block Foyer to offer their respective and collective response to the reports, which are also likely to come up during the daily back-and-forth in the House of Commons this afternoon. (1:30 p.m.)

Elsewhere on the committee circuit: Prospective future Parliamentary Budget Officer Annette Ryan is booked in for what will likely be a highly-charged back-and-forth with MPs on the FINANCE committee, which is tasked with reviewing her nomination before the House of Commons votes on whether to approve the appointment. (3:30 p.m.)

“Ryan, a longtime public servant and the current deputy director at Canada’s financial intelligence agency, Fintrac, was named as cabinet’s pick to become the next parliamentary budget officer earlier this month,” Canadian Press notes.

The nomination has already sparked concern amongst the opposition parties, who have publicly urged the government to give the job to the current interim PBO, Jason Jacques.  

“In a letter to Carney sent March 5, Poilievre said he had “serious” reservations about the prime minister’s suggested appointment and urged him to install Jacques to a full seven-year term,” the wire service reports.

ON AND AROUND THE HILL

Black Class Action Secretariat CEO Nicholas Marcus Thompson joins “representatives from more than 20 labour unions, human rights
organizations, civil society and community organizations” to unveil a “major national initiative to advance the modernization of Canada’s federal employment equity framework” and “ensure that all Canadians have a fair opportunity to contribute to and be represented in decision-making across federally regulated sectors.” (12:30 p.m.)

OUTSIDE THE PRECINCT

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson starts the week in Houston, where he’s set to spend the next two days making the rounds at CERAWeek, which bills itself as “the foremost annual gathering in the energy sector,” and brings together senior executives, ministers, “top officials” and “media representatives” to “cultivate relationships and exchange transformative ideas.”

As per his official itinerary, after attending the “grand opening” of Canada House, Hodgson will host a “roundtable” on “Alberta natural gas” and take part in what the advisory describes as a “live interview with Politico.”

IN THE CHAMBER

Before MPs launch the next round of debate on the government’s proposed new hate crime laws, Conservative MP Arpan Khanna will get his final chance to convince his Commons colleagues to support his backbench pitch to tighten the rules on bail release, which will be put to a critical second-reading vote later this week that will determine whether it proceeds to committee for further review. (11 a.m.)

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Committee highlights courtesy of our friends at iPoliticsINTEL.