[LINK] "Stephen Harper draws criticism for Calgary is Canada’s ‘greatest’ city"

[rfmcdonald]

Jake Edmiston's coverage of Prime Minister Harper's statement, while presiding over the Calgary Stampede, that Calgary--Alberta's economic capital--is Canada's greatest city doesn't touch upon the element of regional rivalries in modern Canada. Something worrying could come of this--Alberta alienation? anti-Alberta sentiment?--given the strength of the Conservative Party federally in Alberta.

In an unscripted moment of Stampede enthusiasm, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has declared Calgary ”the greatest city” in Canada.

“I think that if the [Stampede] founders could be here today and see the great city – see what has built up around this event – they would be amazed,” said Mr. Harper, who was born in Toronto, moved to Calgary in his 20s, and now resides in Ottawa.

“Some people will look at this and say, ‘Come on, really? Calgary?”
“They would be amazed to see that their Stampede has been part of giving birth to the greatest city in the greatest country in the world.”

The declaration has earned him critics – Vancouver’s mayor said the prime minister was clearly mixed up – but it also separated him from his political competitors.

Both interim Liberal leader Bob Rae and NDP leader Thomas Mulcair opted only to endorse all Canadian cities.

“I want to work hard for all Canadian cities,” said Mr. Mulcair, an Ottawa-born Montrealer who grumped: ” ‘I’m better than you’ is not the best way to get results.”

Mr. Rae allowed “Toronto is my hometown” before saying via email, “now that I am a National Leader all of Canada is my home.”

The prime minister’s unplanned remarks at the Calgary Stampede’s opening ceremonies Friday were captured on video and posted on the Huffington Post’s website Tuesday. But the Prime Minister’s Office was notshyabout confirming the truth of the remarks.

“Absolutely the prime minister meant it,” press secretary Carl Vallée wrote in an email Tuesday.

A political science professor at the University of British Columbia couldn’t recall any other Canadian prime minister making such a public claim, but said Mr. Harper’s remarks were reminiscent of Jean Chrétien’s outspoken affinity for his native Shawinigan, Que.

“This is barbecue season and politicians are on break and they’re going to be saying things to please the home crowd,” says Prof. Max Cameron. “But from Harper it’s believable.

“Some people will look at this and say, ‘Come on, really? Calgary?’ But I think it’s kind of cute. When a politician speaks with genuine passion of their hometown, people like