Once the Conservative party's omnibus crime bill makes its way through the legislative process, the government will no doubt need to build more prisons across the country.

At least one mayor is saying no.

Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel demanded Tuesday the federal government stop building prison cells in his city because dealing with the approximately 400 paroled inmates who stay in Edmonton after being released costs police too much money.

"We believe we have more than our fair share of prisoners in our city. We don't want any more," Mandel told the Edmonton Journal.

"If the federal government wants to expand prisons, do it elsewhere … We have done our share."

He's concerned the federal and provincial governments don't sufficiently reimburse cities for the costs of dealing with justice issues, which can include everything from "tough on crime" laws to processing bail applications.

"They need to start paying for those things, for the challenges of municipalities they put upon us," he

Former prime minister John Diefenbaker sits in his office in Ottawa, Aug 29, 1966. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chuck MitchellIn terms of time in office, Stephen Harper is closing in on one of Canada's most celebrated politicians.

On Dec. 8, the 52-year-old Harper will complete his 2,132nd day in office and surpass John George Diefenbaker as Canada's ninth longest serving prime minister.

According to Randy Boswell of PostMedia News, Harper is quickly making his way up the list of Canada's longest serving prime ministers.

In this year alone, he has topped Nobel Prize-winning Liberal prime minister Lester B. Pearson (1963-68); the country's first Liberal prime minister, Alexander Mackenzie (1873-78); and Depression-era Conservative prime minister R.B. Bennett (1930-35).

But passing someone as iconic and revered as Diefenbaker is a quite the feat.

As chronicled at the Library and Archives Canada website, Diefenbaker has quite the list of accomplishments: he appointed the first woman Federal Cabinet Minister, he introduced legislation that improved social programs, championed human rights outside Canada,

Liberal MP Irwin Cotler. (CBC)While dirty campaign tricks have become common in Canada, it seems the Conservatives may have broken some laws with their latest tactic.

Last week it was reported that constituents in the Montreal riding of Mount Royal have been receiving calls from a telephone number identified as "Campaign Research" asking if they intend to support the Conservative Party in an impending federal by-election.

There was one problem though: Liberal MP Irwin Cotler, who represents Mount Royal, has no plans of stepping down and there's no impending by-election.

According to an article in the National Post, on Thursday, the Conservative party has admitted to making the calls but said they were simply identifying supporters. 

"Every political party in the House identifies its voters in one way or another," Conservative MP John Williamson told the Post.

"This is an important part of the political process."

Conservative House Leader Peter Van Loan added that rumours of Cotler's pending resignation have been

The Prime Minister's Office maintains that a Canadian Press report which states bureaucrats have been directed to replace the words Government of Canada with 'Harper Government,' in departmental releases, is false.

In an article published Tuesday, the Canadian Press reiterated its name-change directive yarn, citing new documents received under the Access to Information Act.

"The directive we have from the (director general's office) is that if PCO adds the Harper Government reference, then we leave it in," said an email to communications officials at Industry Canada, dated Oct. 5, 2010.

"Please proceed with this approach. Sorry -- it is what PCO has instructed."

Despite the new 'evidence' however, the PMO insists no directive was ever given.

"The term is used frequently by media and members of the Opposition," Sara MacIntyre, Press Secretary to the office of the Prime Minister told Yahoo! Canada News in an email exchange.

"It is a practice used by other governments as well, take a look

Heidi Rathjen, one of the survivors who witnessed the shootings during the L'École Polytechnique massacre, says the Harper government may have "blood on their hands" if they go ahead with their plans to destroy the long-gun registry.

"With the registry we have had a definite reduction in gun related deaths," she told the Hill Times.

"You take that away, the trend will be reversed, and I'm not afraid to say that the Conservatives will have blood on their hands."

"There is going to be more murders and accidents and suicides caused by long guns because they will be more readily available."

Rathjen made her comments, Tuesday, after the Commons public safety committee meeting which voted to send Bill C-19, the gun registry bill, back to the House of Commons for final passage.

The Toronto Star reports that at the meeting, opposition MPs pleaded with the Tory committee members to preserve record-keeping controls on the sale and transfer of weapons, and to retain federal gun registry data for

Opposition parties in Ottawa have been quick to lay blame on the Harper government for the dire situation in Attawapiskat.

The northern Ontario First Nations' community of 2,800 residents, is facing a severe housing shortage with many residents forced to live in makeshift tents and shacks without heat, electricity or indoor plumbing

NDP MP Charlie Angus, who brought national attention to the story, has led the charge against the Conservatives suggesting the government's "indifference" has resulted in the "misery, suffering and even the death of First Nations people."

Interim Liberal leader Bob Rae called the situation a "national disgrace."

Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo told CTV News, the situation is the result of systemic problems between Ottawa and Aboriginal communities.

Certainly the Harper government is culpable for allowing the situation in Attawapiskat to get as bad as it has but there is much more to this story.

In parliament, Tuesday, Harper noted that, since

Nominee and presenter Rick Mercer poses on the red carpet at the 26th Gemini Awards in Toronto September 7, 2011. REUTERS/Brett GundlockLast week, Conservative MP Brent Rathgeber tabled an order paper question calling on the CBC to reveal the salaries of news anchor Peter Mansbridge and comedian Rick Mercer.

He also asked the public broadcaster produce a list of all CBC staff making more than $100,000 annually.

As the Ottawa Citizen's Glen McGregor describes it, the plan by the anti-CBC Edmonton MP is a "novel one."

"To use the power of parliament to make a request for records that would otherwise be stymied by the Access to Information Act,"  he wrote.

"Once published, (his salary) would ignite public outrage against the excesses of the public broadcaster. This would nicely pave the way for what will certainly be cuts to CBC's $1.1 billion parliamentary appropriation in the coming federal budget or even a total rethink of its mandate."

The NDP, who have in recent weeks come to the defense of the CBC, have now countered with a salary request of their own.

Details of Canada's new border action plan with the United States are now emerging and some measures are certain to irk privacy advocates in this country.

CTV News has learned the so-called "Beyond the Border" agreement will feature a new entry-exit control system that will allow the United States to track everyone coming and leaving Canada by air, land and sea.

In exchange for more information about Canadian travelers, Washington has responded with measures to improve cross-border traffic.

Under the terms of the new deal, the U.S. will move to cut down on gridlock at border crossings and allow pre-screenings on certain low-risk cargo trucks.

Moreover, in an effort to speed the process, CTV notes that U.S. officials will only flag suspicious vehicles at the border rather than doing full inspections that hold up other passengers and cargo.

Despite the promise of smaller border line-ups, however, the new deal will raise questions about what information is being shared with U.S.