The Calgary Stampede is about more than rodeos, cowboy hats and horses—it’s also a big opportunity for politicians.
Regardless of their political affiliations, they come into town seeking partisan support with a lasso of votes.
The ten-day festival celebrating the cowboy way of life has drawn all the federal leaders, who are often cast as dueling gunmen seeking votes in a game of political supremacy.
Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been a regular visitor to the Stampede, as have the leaders of the federal Conservatives, the NDP and the Green Party.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to a crowd gathered for a Sunday pancake breakfast hosted by Liberal MP George Chahal. (Helen Pike/CBC)
The federal Conservative leadership race was in the spotlight on Saturday night as four of the five candidates attended a local party barbecue.
Interim party leader Candice Bergen assured the crowd of 1,100 that unity did not mean uniformity and that it was fine if party members disagreed on a number of issues.
Interim leader of the Conservative Party Candice Bergen attended a party barbecue in Calgary, Alta., on Saturday. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
“It’s okay to be a conservative and have a different view than another conservative on a certain issue. We are in the middle of a leadership race, and I am not naive, nor am I blind,” Bergen said.
“I know things get heated and they heated up during the leadership race and they should. Leadership, my friends, is not for the faint of heart. I have no doubt that we will be united and strong after September 10 after our new leader is announced.”
With the exception of Scott Aitchison, the other four candidates, Pierre Poilievre, Jean Charest, Leslyn Lewis and Roman Baber, were given one last chance to try to win over supporters.
“I got my values here. Values of hard work, self-reliance, independence and freedom. I was raised on those values, but we don’t see much freedom in this country lately. People feel like they’re losing control of their lives,” Polievre said to thunderous applause and cheers from some in the tent.
“Why am I running for Prime Minister? To put you back in charge of your lives by making Canada the freest nation on earth.”
Charest said that after three straight election losses, the Conservatives needed to turn things around.
Pierre Poillievre, center, Conservative Party leadership candidate, attends a party barbecue in Calgary, Alta., Saturday. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
“In fact, the Conservatives must be the most generous political party in the world.” There is an election campaign and we are saying to Mr. Trudeau here, you take it,” Charest said.
“After all, we have to win an election campaign and we cannot risk losing it. The choice you will face…is who will win a national Conservative government with a made-in-Canada agenda.”
Charest was heckled throughout much of his speech by a man who identified himself as a Poilievre supporter.
“Aren’t you a liberal?” he shouted.
“Boo. Go back to Ottawa.”
Jean Charest, right, Conservative Party leadership candidate, attends a party barbecue in Calgary, Alta., on Saturday. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
A woman who identified herself as from Toronto told him to “stop it.”
“Go back to Toronto then. This is Alberta. This is Western Canada,” the man replied.
Confusion and politics
Interest in politics and the Stampede continued to grow over the years.
“It’s not just conservatives who do this. I think it kind of evolved,” said Laurie Williams, a political science professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary.
“There was enough media attention and enough people coming from outside of Calgary that it became a magnet for leaders from across the country to come and engage in some kind of good political connections that would be seen by people across the country.”
She said there was some “star power” associated with the Stampede as well.
“To see someone they’ve seen online or on TV and they want to see and connect – and that’s a great opportunity for politicians because sometimes those connections can change hearts and minds.”
The federal Conservatives are due to elect a new leader in September.
Former Calgary Conservative MP Joanne Crockatt said politicians get a chance to see a lot of people during the Stampede, which makes it very effective.
“I think what people kind of expect from the Stampede is that there’s going to be some star quality, you can wear your rhinestones, your cowboy hat and your cowboy boots,” said Crockett, who represented Calgary Center from 2012 to 2015.
“It’s a much more fun way to meet a politician than events or door knocking.”
The Stampede runs through July 17.
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