OTTAWA — Here is a transcript of prime minister-designate Stephen Harper's news conference Thursday:

Question: You're making accountability a central part of your first legislative endeavour. Mr. Mulroney did that with, he opened up access to information and had higher standards for, people would resign if there was anything wrong. Are you worried at all that by putting such a high bar that this will end up coming back in a way to bite you if there are any of your ministers have any kind of misdeeds or anybody in your government?

Harper: Well, I won't suggest I'm not a bit worried by that but our objective still has to be to establish high standards and live up to them. In terms of Access to Information, as you know, there were a number of commitments in our platform and before the campaign to much further open up access to information and there have been requests made by the information commissioner. We're going to adopt those recommendations. I think I've said in terms of the bar, in terms of people resigning, you know, I think we have to treat that with some care. I think I've said in the past that in that government, I thought the trigger was often pulled too quickly but in this past government, we saw what happened when nobody was ever forced to leave. The problems just got bigger and bigger as time wore on. So we want to find some kind of a reasonable medium.

Question: May I ask a question about Hamas? They've been elected in Palestinian territories. Will the Canadian government recognize them?

Harper: I'll address this in more detail when I take office, Bob, but let me just say as you know, we've always maintained that we support a secure Israel and a democratic Palestine but for a nation to be truly democratic, that nation must renounce any use of terrorism.

Question (in French): You say that you have spoken to several provincial premiers. But have you spoken to Mr. Charest himself? And on the question of the fiscal gap, the expectations are very, very high on the part of the provinces. Do you have a more definite schedule now that you are elected?

Harper (in French): I had, obviously, a conversation with Premier Charest. Most of the discussions with the premiers are congratulatory calls and obviously we intend to talk, to meet to discuss a number of matters much more in detail.

Question: Yes, if I can be permitted to ask a supplementary. Now you say that you are going to have meetings to discuss several matters in detail. During the campaign in Quebec, you won 10 ridings because the expectations are there that you are quickly going resolve the fiscal gap. Do you have a timetable? Or is there something implement in the first months of your mandate?

Harper: I recognize the commitments that we have made. There are many including the fiscal gap. I said that I intend to have serious discussions with the provinces to solve this problem.

Question: Mr. Harper, can you just tell me a little bit about your conversation with George Bush? Did you get into any issues of substance, for example, missile defence? And did you talk about when you might meet?

Harper: The conversation was really congratulatory in nature. It was a very friendly conversation and we agreed that we would meet at a timetable yet to be determined to discuss a number of important issues.

Question (in French): Mr. Harper, Frank McKenna resigned yesterday as Canada's ambassador to Washington. Taking in to consideration the importance of the post, for the news ambassador, is it going to be a partisan or non-partisan nomination?

Harper (in French): I have to say there is a necessity for the prime minister to make certain political nominations. . . the relationship of the prime minister to this person is very important. I've spoken with Mr. McKenna. He indicated his intentions and I'm not in a position to respond, to make announcements at the beginning of my government.

Question (in French): But it's going to be a partisan nomination?

Harper (in French): I can only say that it's common in this post to have someone who is very close to the prime minister.

Question: Sir, in the last week of the campaign, you travelled to several regions and you appealed to voters to elect Conservative MPs so they would have representation in your government. That appeal fell on deaf ears in some major urban centres, especially Toronto. Are you concerned by this lack of representation and how do you overcome it?

Harper: I'll simply say that we were obviously encouraged by the fact that we made gains in virtually every part of the country at least in terms of votes. Obviously in some cases, we didn't win the seats we needed but we're moving in the right direction and obviously I will try and address this as we put together the government and its program.

Question: And as you prepare to select a cabinet, are we going to see one that's larger or smaller than the current one? And, as well, what factors will influence your decision-making as you select that cabinet?

Harper: Right. As you can imagine, I'm not going to discuss much about the selection of the cabinet today. I will simply say this that I will be guided in my decisions, I have to make a number of difficult decisions and I know it's inevitable that a significant number of people will be disappointed with the decisions that I make but I will make the decisions in what I think are the best interests of the country and more particularly in the best interests of having a smoothly operating machinery of government.

Question: Mr. Harper, I know you haven't set this as one of your top priorities but at what point do you think in the life of a minority government you would be able to bring forward legislation or a motion or a vote on the traditional definition of marriage?

Harper: I've simply said that we'll be doing it in the life of the parliament. I would prefer to do it sooner rather than later but not immediately.

Question: And can I just ask you also, to follow up on the question about the cabinet, most of your bench strength in opposition was western Canadian MPs, particularly Alberta MPs. Could we expect that a larger proportion than normal of your cabinet would be from Alberta or British Columbia or are you going to have to accommodate a lot of your Ontario and your new Quebec MPs?

Harper: I will simply say that the cabinet will reflect the unity and diversity of the country.

Question (in French): Mr. Harper, you say there are posts such as the Canadian ambassador to Washington that are very important for a prime minister. It takes people who are close to the prime minister. What other posts are on this list?

Harper (in French): That's something I intend to discuss in the future.

Question: Could you please respond to reports that somehow you didn't fully co-operate into the ethics investigation regarding the Grewal matter?

Harper: Well, I gather that the ethics commissioner received the information he needed from my office and was able to prepare his report and I do look forward to having a chance to review that report but I haven't at this point.

Question: Can I ask just a quick follow-up question? You have relatively few women on your team. Why do you think that is and to what extent is that any kind of concern?

Harper: Well, I appreciate you asking me that question. There really weren't the numbers of women candidates I'd like to see. I think there are things the party can do to assist the nomination of female candidates in the future but I'm pleased to say we've elected a number of highly capable women MPs and I look forward to working with them.

Question: Sir, after the 2004 election you said that the Conservative party should have a role in drafting the Throne Speech of then-Prime Minister Martin. I'm wondering, given that you've won a minority, when you might invite the opposition leaders to help you write your Throne Speech.

Harper: I do intend to consult at some point prior to the opening of parliament with the opposition leaders.

Question: How much input will you accept from them? What if someone tells you, look, one of the aspects of your platform just isn't on for them? How will you navigate through that?

Harper: Well, obviously I'll be open to hearing as much input as they want to give. It will ultimately be my decision and the decision of our cabinet how much we accept. I will simply say that we've run on obviously at the front end we've run on a series of priorities that are very clear and I think are popular with Canadians and I think Canadians expect us to pursue those priorities.

Question (in French): Yes, Mr. Harper, you spoke about Gomery earlier. Are you opening the door after the publication of the commissioner's next report to modify your law on accountability if there are things that interest you in this report?

Harper (in French): Yes. Yes, I'm expecting interesting proposals from Judge Gomery and obviously we intend to follow key measures of our law on federal accountability but if there are other measures that are consistent with our principles, our objectives, we will try to adopt them.

Question (in French): Have you come up with a strategy to government with a Liberal Senate majority?

Harper (in French): I can only say that it's a reality, like I said in the election campaign. It's a political reality, a constitutional reality. Obviously, I wish to reform the senate and I hope, I intend to listen to the senators. There are a lot of senators with a lot of experience and wisdom but I expect we're going to respect the traditional rule. The senate respects the will of those elected.

Question: I know you just won a mandate on things like your child-care program and I'm thinking about that in particular, actually. But the other parties are unlikely to agree with it flat out. Are you going to be willing to negotiate anything with them on things that are in your mandate?

Harper: Well, I think that the child-care program we laid out in particular, direct assistance to all Canadian parents. I think this is something that is very popular. I'm always willing to have discussions but I do believe that Canadian parents and families expect us to deliver on this and frankly expect the parliament as a whole to deliver them that benefit.

Question: Would you be willing to give that then plus more if the other parties demanded it?

Harper: Well, I say I would never engage in negotiations with the other parties in a press conference. But obviously I'm interested, always interested to hear what the other opposition leaders will have to say.

Question: I don't think it's lost on anyone that you'll be sworn in as prime minister on the same day that Gomery's set to release his report and I wonder given that if you intend to pursue a lawsuit for the $40 million that you've talked about several times during the campaign and whether you intend to not give a severance package to David Dingwall?

Harper: I've indicated in the past, as you know, that we intend to draw to the attention of the appropriate authorities the necessity of trying to recover the missing money and I think you know what I've said about that. In terms of Mr. Dingwall, obviously I don't, we have never favoured paying a severance package to someone who voluntarily resigned. That's our understanding of the situation. You know I'm going to be interested to see when I get full briefings on that exactly what the legal situation is with regard to any negotiations with Mr. Dingwall.

Question: Sorry, my supplementary is I wonder you have no elected members from Prince Edward Island. You have one Senate vacancy. Do you intend to use that vacancy to hold perhaps what could be the first election for a Senate position?

Harper: I'm not going to comment on that at the moment other than the fact as you all know we intend to put into place in the course of our mandate an electoral process at the federal level for Senate elections in each province. So that's all I'll say for now and obviously you've asked, there's a couple of questions embedded in what you've asked and we'll be able to address them I hope a little better on the 6th of February.

I maybe will address one other subject before I go. Sorry, I want to address one other question before I go and that is I did notice yesterday...

(in French): If I can comment yesterday on some comments from the U.S. ambassador about our plans for the sovereignty of our Arctic. I am clear, our party was clear during electoral campaign. The United States defends its sovereignty. It's the intention of our government to defend our sovereignty. We have plans for National Defence. We have a mandate from the Canadian people and I hope, the House of Commons, and it's our intention to follow that mandate. We're getting our mandate from the Canadian population and not from the ambassador of the United States.

(in English): And I will say the same thing in English which, as I say, I noticed yesterday in the papers comments by the Ambassador the United States on Arctic sovereignty. As you know, I was very clear about this in the election campaign. The United States defends its sovereignty. The Canadian government will defend our sovereignty. I've been very clear in the campaign that we have significant plans for National Defence and for defence of our sovereignty including Arctic sovereignty. We believe we have a mandate for those from the Canadian people and we hope to have it as well from the House of Commons but it is the Canadian people we get our mandate from, not the Ambassador of the United States. Thank you.