The Calgary Stampede is more than a rodeo, cowboy hats and horses — it’s also a major opportunity for politicians.
Regardless of their political affiliations, they travel to the city in search of partisan support, lassoing in the form of votes.
The 10-day festival celebrating the cowboy way of life has drawn all federal leaders, who often take on the persona of dueling gunmen seeking votes in a game of political one-upmanship.
Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a regular visitor to the Stampede, as are the leaders of the federal Conservatives, NDP and Green Party.
The federal Conservative Party leadership race was the focus on Saturday night as four of the five candidates attended a local party barbecue.
Acting party leader Candice Bergen assured the crowd of 1,100 that unity doesn’t mean uniformity and that it’s okay if party members don’t agree on a a number of questions.
“It’s okay to be a conservative and have a different view than another conservative on a particular issue. We’re in the middle of a leadership race and I’m neither naive nor blind,” said said Bergen.
“I know things are heating up and they have heated up in the leadership race and so 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 had one last chance to try and win over supporters.
“I have my values here. Values of hard work, self-reliance, independence and freedom. I was raised on those values, but lately we haven’t seen much freedom in this country. People feel like they are losing control of their lives,” Polièvre said to loud applause and a standing ovation from some in the tent.
“Why am I running for Prime Minister? To give you back control of your life by making Canada the freest nation in the world.”
Charest said after losing three consecutive elections, the Conservatives needed to change things.
“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 accept it,” Charest said.
“At the end of the day, we have to win an election campaign and we cannot risk losing that campaign. The choice you are going to face…is who is going to win a national Conservative government with a program made in Canada.
Charest was heckled for much of his speech by someone who identified himself as a Poilievre supporter.
“Aren’t you a liberal?” he shouted.
“Boo. Go back to Ottawa.”
A woman, who identified herself as being from Toronto, told him to “stop it”.
“Go back to Toronto then. This is Alberta. This is Western Canada,” the man replied.
Scramble and politics
Interest in politics and the Stampede has grown steadily over the years.
“It’s not just the Conservatives doing this. I think it’s evolved one way or another,” said Lori 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 across the country to come and engage in some sort of feel-good political relationship that would be seen by people across the country.”
She said there was also a “star power” associated with the Stampede.
“To see someone they’ve seen online or on TV that they kind of want to see and connect with – and that’s a great opportunity for politicians because sometimes those connections can change hearts and spirits.”
The federal Conservatives are due to elect a new leader in September.
Former Calgary Conservative MP Joan Crockatt said politicians get to see a lot of people during the Stampede, which makes it very effective.
“I think what people expect from the Stampede is that there will be a star quality, you can wear your rhinestones, your cowboy hat and your cowboy boots,” said Crockatt, who represented Calgary. Center from 2012 to 2015.
“It’s a much more fun way to meet a politician than going to events or going door to door.”
The Stampede runs until July 17.
“Internet evangelist. Extreme communicator. Subtly charming alcohol aficionado. Typical tv geek.”