In the chambers:
The contentious copyright legislation the Conservatives have proposed will be getting most of the attention on this half day (MPs like to duck out of Ottawa early on Fridays so they can get back to their constituencies).
This will be the last day for the bill to be debated at second reading, after the government successfully moved time allocation earlier this week. Assuming the Conservatives can use their majority to get the bill past this stage when it comes to a vote, the bill will be off to committee for further review where it can, theoretically, have some of the more controversial elements changed.
There has been a lot of noise about some of the provisions contained in the bill, including whether to provide digital locks on ebooks, CDs and other consumer products.
Some ministers will miss the action today, because they've already taken off, fanning across the country to make funding and infrastructure announcements.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is hosting a teleconference this morning to speak about his agricultural trade mission to China. Meanwhile, Minister of State for science Gary Goodyear will be in Cambridge, Ont. to make an announcement about helping the agri-food industry in Southern Ontario.
Transport Minister Denis Lebel is scheduled to make an announcement in Quebec City about funding for the city's Winter Carnival.
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, meanwhile, will be in Steinbach, Man. to celebrate the opening of a new affordable housing development there.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will be in Oshawa, Ont. with the riding's MP, Colin Carrie, to make an announcement about the Port of Oshawa.
International Development Minister Bev Oda will be with the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities at a hotel in Ottawa to announce a new local economic development initiative for the Caribbean. The FCM, through this project, hopes to help municipalities in the Caribbean generate sustainable economic growth.
Minister of State for western economic diversification Lynne Yelich is expected at the Saskatchewan Mining Association's annual general meeting in Saskatoon, Sask. this afternoon to make an announcement regarding the province's mining industry. Yelich will be returning from a visit to the elementary school on Whitecap Dakota First Nation in Saskatchewan where she is expected to make an announcement relating to connectivity service in First Nations.
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