Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he will not "cut and run" on the Afghanistan mission even if it means losing the next election, in an exclusive interview with CTV News.

The Bloc Quebecois has threatened to topple the minority Conservative government over a vote to overhaul the mission. But new Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has said he won't try defeat the government over the issue.

"I tell people I couldn't care less if the Opposition ultimately brings me down and defeats me in an election over this," said Harper.

"I have to do what we believe is right for long-term security interests of this country, and right for the men and women who have put themselves on the line. Those are the interests I will defend regardless of what the polls are on this."

The full interview between Harper, Chief News Anchor Lloyd Robertson and Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife will air on CTV at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23 (check local listings).

Harper added that the families of killed soldiers remind him that they "believe strongly in what (the troops) were doing."

"They want to know from me that our government is committed to success, that our government is going to honour their sacrifice and not simply cut and run for political reasons," he said.

The prime minister also defended his decision to recognize the Quebecois as a nation within a unified Canada, arguing the motion was a defeat for separatists.

"It is not about powers or constitutions," said Harper. "It is simply an act of reconciliation, to put to bed this idea that the rest of the country doesn't understand or appreciate the unique characteristics of the province of Quebec."

And in one revealing moment during the interview, Harper named British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a political leader he holds in high esteem.

"I didn't know that the person he's most impressed with in terms of political leaders is Tony Blair," said Fife.

"It's a bit of a surprise, given the fact that Mr. Blair is sort of left of the political spectrum, and the prime minister, of course, is right of the political spectrum."

Fife told CTV Newsnet on Wednesday that they also touched on the personal life of the prime minister, including his fascination with hockey's history. Harper is currently writing a book on the subject.

"He is still working on the hockey book. He said he's a year behind schedule, but he's still working on it," said Fife.

As for U.S. President George Bush's nickname for Harper -- "Steve" -- the prime minister's mother may have been the most negatively affected.

"It made my mother quite angry, because she's spent her whole life trying to get people to call me Stephen instead of Steve," he joked.

"I don't know if she phoned the White House or not."

With a report by CTV's Chief Political Correspondent Craig Oliver