MPs are set to get their first chance to put their thoughts on a Senate-endorsed bid to end whale and dolphin captivity in Canada on the official parliamentary record as Green Party Leader Elizabeth May kicks off the opening round of debate on S-203, which is now — finally — up for the consideration of the Commons following a three-year odyssey through the Upper House.

Initially introduced in 2015 by since-retired senator Wilfred Moore, the backbench bid to ban the practice of housing marine mammals in commercial aquariums faced unwavering opposition from the Conservative side of the Red Chamber, particularly from Sen. Don Plett, who, with the help of a handful of caucus colleagues, managed to stall its passage until last month, when it finally made it through third reading.

But while several Liberal MPs have come out in support of the proposal ahead of its arrival in the House, it remains to be seen whether it will secure the formal support of the government, which would virtually guarantee that it will make it to the legislative finish line.

(Except in rare cases, all votes on private members’ business are automatically designated as ‘free’ votes, but cabinet will usually indicate where it stands on a particular bill or motion, which can have a significant impact on the ultimate outcome of the vote.)

Far less fraught with suspense, however, is the fate of Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s budget implementation plan, which is all but certain to garner the endorsement of the House after MPs wrap up debate on the proposal later today, courtesy of a time allocation motion imposing a one-day limit on the the final round of discussion.

ON & AROUND THE HILL

Global Affairs officials are set to brief reporters on what the advisory describes, somewhat obliquely, as “an additional health incident affecting Canadian diplomatic staff in Cuba” — specifically, new reports of “unusual health symptoms” experienced by diplomatic staff, including one official currently under medical care for a traumatic brain injury.

Also on the precinct media circuit today: Senate fisheries and oceans committee chair Fabian Manning teams up with colleagues Marc Gold and Jim Munson to release a new report on the state of Canada’s maritime search and rescue system, which, as the advisory notes, emerged over the course of more than two years of study, including “fact-finding missions to British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Iqaluit, and abroad.”

OUTSIDE THE PRECINCT

In advance of World AIDS Day, Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor unveils new funding earmarked for HIV support during a morning visit with the Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance in Ottawa,

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