Prime Minister Stephen Harper suggested to police officers on Thursday that they could help the federal government with its law and order agenda by lobbying opposition MPs to pass crime bills before Parliament.

Harper, speaking at an annual appreciation dinner for York Regional Police, said the Conservatives have introduced 11 crime bills last year but nine have yet to be passed by the House of Commons. York Region is a large suburban area that includes nine municipalities north of Toronto.

"I would suggest that you not hesitate to pressure … all parties to get on with passing this legislation," Harper said in Thornhill, Ont. "These measures have been making their way through this minority Parliament very slowly."

The nine bills include measures to tighten the law against drug impaired drivers, to impose longer mandatory minimum sentences for people who use guns during crimes, and to make designating criminals as dangerous offenders easier.

"All these initiatives are designed to rebalance the scales of justice in Canada," Harper said, "so you will have the tools you need to continue making the communities you serve safer and stronger."

Some of the bills are slated to be debated in the House of Commons next week. Harper said he hopes the bills will make their way through the Commons quickly.

"I hope that goodwill and common sense will prevail in these deliberations," he said.

Harper said one bill, which would put the onus on people accused of serious gun crimes to convince a judge they should be granted bail, has already received support from police officers and government officials in Canada.

The bail reforms bill, however, has been criticized by defence lawyers who say it goes too far. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Toronto Mayor David Miller have both expressed support for the bill, as has Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion.

"I hope all parties in the House of Commons will get onside," Harper said.

The police appreciation dinner is held every year to honour 1,300 members of the York Regional Police.

With files from the Canadian Press