Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Joe Comartin

Opposition Parties Dept: The cost of implementing the measures is a major concern for opposition parties, who have pledged to make it difficult for the government to pass the omnibus bill within 100 sitting days, as promised by the Conservatives last spring, according to CBC. NDP critic Joe Comartin took issue with the interpretation of the government's mandate. "To see that election as being a support for any policy of the federal Conservatives, is misrepresenting the reality of what happened in that election," he said and prime Minister Stephen Harper's majority Conservative government has begun a push to make good on a major election campaign pledge Tuesday, with the introduction or in many cases, reintroduction of legislation bundling together a variety of crime-fighting initiatives. Speaking to reporters, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson expressed the government's "deep appreciation" for the support of Canadians in the last election, who gave the Conservative government "a strong mandate to move forward." The minister said he was "very grateful" for the public's support for these measures. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.