This week Public Safety Minister Vic Toews claimed that "for security reasons and to maintain the integrity of police operations" he could not fully answer a question from NDP MP Sylvain Chicoine about the RCMP's fleet of aircraft.

Toews was among many ministers who, on Monday, provided answers to hundreds of outstanding questions from last year. Chicoine had asked Toews for a tally of how many aircraft are in the RCMP fleet, how often they fly, what they cost and how they are used, as well as a breakdown of their make, model and age.

This year is the 75th anniversary of the RCMP taking to the air. And as someone who has written about the Mounties' planes, I found Toews' response a little curious.

"Mr. Speaker, the RCMP owns 12 fixed-wing aircraft of various makes and models, ranging from 3 to 26 years of age, for surveillance. Aircraft are deployed for use across the country, as and when required. Requests from outside police forces may be considered based on operational availability," Toews said in his answer tabled in the House of Commons.

"For security reasons and to maintain the integrity of police operations, the RCMP cannot further identify these resources or release additional details as to their usage without jeopardizing ongoing police operations and investigational techniques, as well as the safety of RCMP personnel and the public," Toews said.

Last September, I checked in with the RCMP for an update on the force's fleet. I was told the Mounties have 32 planes and 10 choppers. The fleet is used for surveillance, air support, patrols, getting around remote areas, searches, transporting supplies and personnel as well as executive travel.

The makes and models of the aircraft can all be found with the click of a mouse on the RCMP Air Services web page, where the force proudly describes its fleet of 3 Cessna Caravans, 2 De Havilland Twin Otters, 2 Eurocopter EC 120Bs, 8 Eurocopter AS 350B3s, 15 Pilatus PC-12s, 10 Cessnas and let's not forget former Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli's Italian vanity jet, the Piaggio Avanti P180.

Now if the Mounties don't mind sharing information about the fleet, I'm not sure why Toews does, especially when speaking on behalf of the RCMP.

A Toronto man is asking Conservatives, New Democrats and members of any other party in existence to support his bid for the Liberal Party nomination for the upcoming by-election in the riding of Toronto-Danforth.

In his unconventional online pitch, Grant Gordon has written specific messages to people of all political stripes.

Hit the jump for more...

The Liberals want members of Canada's legal community to join the fight against bill C-10, the government's omnibus crime legislation. The party is running ads in a number of law publications, including Lawyers WeeklyTimes, Canadian Lawyer, Law Times, Le Journal du Barreau du Quebec, National Magazine and University Affairs.

The ad features a Canadian flag behind prison bars and an open letter from the Liberal party's interim leader Bob Rae asking readers, "If you don't oppose the omnibus crime bill, who will?"

Read more and see the ad after the jump...

It was getting really annoying.

I mean, it was nice that so many people responded to my piece about the new RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson, but many of the online comments simply read, "His name is Robert Paulson."

In one case someone turned on the caps lock and typed out, "HIS NAME IS ROBERT PAULSON" several times. I also received tweets and emails telling me, "His name is Robert Paulson."

Now I know for a fact the new RCMP commissioner goes by Bob, not Robert, so I could not understand all these accusations that I had mistakenly abbreviated his name.

Curious, and growing suspicious that I one the wrong side of an inside joke, I turned to my google machine and typed in "His name is Robert Paulson". I got 156,000 results.

More, after the jump....

While the NDP leadership race heats up, scant attention has been paid to the Liberal Party and its renewal activities. 

Having changed its constitution in June in order to give it more time to select a leader, the party is heading towards a January policy convention where members will help shape a future platform, choose a new president and officers, as well as improve the party's structure and governance.

Liberals have been invited to go online and vote on the issues they want considered at the convention.  The most popular resolutions will make it through. 

So far, the two top resolutions have nothing to do with policy or party renewal. 

More, after the jump:

Republican State Rep. Dan Winslow wants this fish (look up) to swim the other way.

The 1.5-metre pine carving of a cod, Massachusetts' official state fish, hangs over the public gallery at the back of the Chamber of the House of Representatives. Dubbed the "Sacred Cod," the fish serves to remind those present of the historic importance of fishing to the state's economy.

And it matters which way the fish is facing.

Find out why, after the jump...

If you've got a green thumb, Canada's embassy in Italy wants to hear from you. Hit the jump to see how you could win a contract worth $500,000 to $1,000,000.

Supreme Court of Canada Justices Louise Charron and Ian Binnie surprised many in the country's legal community last Friday when they announced their retirements.

It's not often two judges leave at the same time. Charron, 60, is also nowhere near the court's mandatory retirement age of 75.

While many observers of the top court have spoken fondly about the contributions and personal style of Charron and Binnie, others have wondered how Prime Minister Stephen Harper will select their replacements.

More, after the jump:

All things considered, the suite at the back of Michael Ignatieff's Liberal bus is pretty cosy. 

I sat on the squishy green couch to interview the Liberal leader this afternoon on our bumpy drive from Paris to Stoney Creek, Ontario. 

While his wife Zsuzsanna Zsohar read quietly in the corner, I asked Ignatieff about frustrated voters who think Canada needs electoral reform or some kind of unification of parties on the political left. 

Hear the interview and read a partial transcript, after the jump: