Stephen Harper was born in Toronto, lives in Ottawa, but thinks Calgary is the "greatest city" in Canada.

The Prime Minister made the comments on Friday at the the kickoff parade for the Calgary Stampede. You can see the part of the speech in question in the video above.

"I think that if the [Stampede's] founders could be here today and see the great city, see what has built up around this event, they would be amazed. 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," Harper said.

The PM is the MP for Calgary Southwest and built his political machine in Alberta in the days of the Reform Party.

However, for all the praise Harper has heaped on his adopted home, the city may not be returning his affections.

Just last month, readers of Calgary magazine Fast Forward Weekly named the Prime Minister best local villain and most embarrassing citizen.

Many of Canada's political leaders are at the Stampede, taking the opportunity to do some public relations work while the House of Commons is on break for the summer.

Liberal MP Justin Trudeau, interim Liberal leader Bob Rae and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May have made appearances and NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair will arrive in the city on Thursday. He won't, however, be meeting with one of the Stampede's most visible faces: Alberta Premier Alison Redford.

In total, 44 Tory MPs and four senators showed up to Harper's annual BBQ event in Calgary on Saturday, including prominent ministers Peter MacKay, Jason Kenney, Vic Toews and Joe Oliver.

While Harper's visit to Calgary has garnered plenty of media attention, his comments on Calgary's pre-eminence in Canada haven't. While his BBQ and appearances have made headlines, only the website OpenFile dedicated an article to the comments.

Perhaps the rest of Canada has just grown accustomed to the PM's special love for Alberta and its largest city.

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  • NDP leader Tom Mulcair, right, tours the Calgary Stampede grounds with his wife Catherine in Calgary, Thursday, July 12, 2012. Mulcair is visiting the city and taking in the Stampede which is celebrating its 100th anniversary featuring rodeo action, chuckwagon races, a midway, agricultural exhibits and live stock competitions.

  • NDP leader Tom Mulcair puts a pin in a map as he tours the Calgary Stampede grounds with his wife Catherine in Calgary, Thursday, July 12, 2012. Mulcair is visiting the city and taking in the Stampede which is celebrating its 100th anniversary featuring rodeo action, chuckwagon races, a midway, agricultural exhibits and live stock competitions.

  • NDP leader Tom Mulcair, centre, tours the Calgary Stampede grounds with his wife Catherine, right, in Calgary, Thursday, July 12, 2012. Mulcair is visiting the city and taking in the Stampede which is celebrating its 100th anniversary featuring rodeo action, chuckwagon races, a midway, agricultural exhibits and live stock competitions.

  • NDP leader Tom Mulcair walks away from a media scrum on the steps of old city hall in Calgary, Thursday, July 12, 2012. Mulcair is visiting the city and taking in the Stampede which is celebrating its 100th anniversary featuring rodeo action, chuckwagon races, a midway, agricultural exhibits and live stock competitions.

  • NDP leader Tom Mulcair, centre, speaks to the media on the steps of old city hall in Calgary, Thursday, July 12, 2012. Mulcair is visiting the city and taking in the Stampede which is celebrating its 100th anniversary featuring rodeo action, chuckwagon races, a midway, agricultural exhibits and live stock competitions.

  • NDP leader Tom Mulcair, centre, crosses Macleod Trail in Calgary, Thursday, July 12, 2012. Mulcair is visiting the city and taking in the Stampede which is celebrating its 100th anniversary featuring rodeo action, chuckwagon races, a midway, agricultural exhibits and live stock competitions.

  • NDP leader Tom Mulcair speaks to the media on the steps of old city hall in Calgary, Thursday, July 12, 2012. Mulcair is visiting the city and taking in the Stampede which is celebrating its 100th anniversary featuring rodeo action, chuckwagon races, a midway, agricultural exhibits and live stock competitions.

  • Liberal MP Justin Trudeau, centre, has his cowbay taken by his son Xavier, 4 years-old, while his wife Sophie Gregoire, second from left, holds daughet Ella-Grace, 3 years-old, while they attend the party's annual Stampede breakfast in Calgary, Saturday, July 7, 2012. This is the 100th anniversary of the Stampede.

  • Liberal leader Bob Rae, centre, and MP Justin Trudeau, left, joke with Lyall Curry, 92, while attending the party's annual Stampede breakfast in Calgary, Saturday, July 7, 2012. This is the 100th anniversary of the Stampede.

  • Prime Minister Stephen Harper, left, and his wife Laureen attend the Calgary Stampede parade in Calgary, Friday, July 6, 2012. The parade featured 700 horses, 26 marching bands and 12 street sweeping trucks to clean horse droppings. This is the 100th anniversary of the Stampede which runs for 10 days featuring rodeo action, chuckwagon races, a midway, agricultural exhibits and live stock competitions.

  • Prime Minister Stephen Harper, left, and his wife Laureen, seen through the legs of a horse, attend the Calgary Stampede parade in Calgary, Friday, July 6, 2012. The parade featured 700 horses, 26 marching bands and 12 street sweeping trucks to clean horse droppings. This is the 100th anniversary of the Stampede which runs for 10 days featuring rodeo action, chuckwagon races, a midway, agricultural exhibits and live stock competitions.

  • Alberta Premier Alison Redford, right,drides a horse uring the Calgary Stampede parade in Calgary, Friday, July 6, 2012. The parade featured 700 horses, 26 marching bands and 12 street sweeping trucks to clean horse droppings. This is the 100th anniversary of the Stampede which runs for 10 days featuring rodeo action, chuckwagon races, a midway, agricultural exhibits and live stock competitions.

  • Liberal MP Justin Trudeau sports a cowboy hat while attending the party's annual Stampede breakfast in Calgary, Saturday, July 7, 2012. This is the 100th anniversary of the Stampede.

  • Liberal leader Bob Rae sports a cowboy hat while attending the party's annual Stampede breakfast in Calgary, Saturday, July 7, 2012. This is the 100th anniversary of the Stampede.

  • Alberta Premier Alison Redford dances the two-step with former Stampede president Dr. David Chalack at a Calgary Stampede breakfast event on Monday July 9, 2012.