Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure
ATC Issue All Types
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
At the conclusion of obtaining the clearance; the Controller informed us that our wheels up time was two minutes past our scheduled departure time. He never asked us what time we could be wheels up. He just took it upon himself to ask us for wheels up time that was within two minutes of our scheduled departure time. On the taxi to [the] runway he told us to expedite our taxi.  A conversation with the Controller on the radio and the phone led me to believe that he didn't think he was rushing us to takeoff. Maybe he is correct 'technically;' but practically; he is wrong.  The threat here is clear.  Flight crews that are in a hurry are more likely to make mistakes.  I make sure my crew has the time they need to do their job. The last thing I; or really any flight crew; needs is a controller rushing the flight crew. It is the most common threat I see from ATC. Unfortunately; there are plenty of crews here who allow ATC to get them in a hurry.  As I have in the past; I will continue to stand my ground.  I am going to report controllers who rush me and other flights.   Perhaps the company can remind pilots somehow that letting anyone; be it a gate agent; dispatcher; or controller; rush them is a threat to safety.
CRJ-200 Captain perceives Controller's request for a wheels up time within two minutes of the scheduled departure time and instruction to expedite taxi as 'pushing' the flight crew.