MPs to wrap up debate on bid to crack down on safe injection sites

As the House prepares to shut down for another week-long constituency break, MPs will devote the remaining half-day session to a final round of debate on the government's efforts to restrict the establishment of community-based safe injection sites, which now looks set to pass a final vote and move on to the Senate when the Chamber reopens for business on March 23.

• Naloxone, safe injection sites could curb overdoses in Quebec

Later this afternoon, New Democrat MP Claude Gravelle will outline the details of his private members' proposal to create a national strategy for dementia.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Peter MacKay joins Veterans Affairs Minister Erin O'Toole at the HMCS Scotian in Halifax, where the pair will make an "important announcement" on a new initiative to "benefit part-time Reserve Force veterans."

Also slated to share news on benefits for veterans today: Defence Minister Jason Kenney, who will do so during a visit to the Centennial-Calgary branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Back in Toronto, Health Minister Rona Ambrose drops by the HealthForceOntario Access Centre with news on "internationally educated health professionals."

Elsewhere in the city, Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson poses for the cameras with his Irish counterpart, Charles Flanagan, at a cameras-only photo op before the pair heads behind closed doors for a bilateral meeting.

Also out and about on the ministerial circuit:

• Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq heads to CenterBeam Place in Saint John where, alongside local MP Rodney Weston, she will "take part in an announcement regarding historic investments in Parks Canada infrastructure."
• Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney takes a brief break from promoting his proposed anti-terror legislation to hand out federal cash to a community hall in Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse.
• Moving west to Winnipeg, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification Michelle Rempel shows her government's support for "technology commercialization" at the Orthopaedic Innovation Centre.
• Finally, Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay is in her home riding of Delta to boost awareness of both the community volunteer income tax program, which is also the subject of the "Need a Hand"video recently produced by her department.

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