Today on the Hill: Expansion of Canada's Iraq mission goes to Commons vote

OTTAWA - The federal Conservatives are poised to pass a motion today that will see Canada's military join an aerial combat mission in northern Iraq — and possibly Syria — over the next six months.

A vote on the motion to commit air support to the fight against Islamic extremists in the region is expected Tuesday night.

The New Democrats and Liberals have already said they will turn up their noses at the plan, but the Conservative majority means the motion will almost certainly pass.

Even before the vote, military planners headed to the Middle East to go over basing and logistics.

Here are some of the other events taking place on and around Parliament Hill:

— The 2014 fall report from Julie Gelfand, commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, will be tabled in the House of Commons;

— The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health will hold a news conference to celebrate the Faces of Mental Illness for 2014;

— Official Languages commissioner Graham Fraser releases findings from his 2013-14 annual report;

— And Green Party Leader Elizabeth May launches her book, "Who We Are: Reflections on my Life and Canada."