Stephen Harper's declaration that Calgary is the greatest city in Canada is threatening to stir up a national round of hometown rivalry.

The Toronto-born, Calgary-dwelling prime minister made the bold pronouncement as he officially kicked off the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede on Friday.

The event's founders "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 gushed.

While none of his fellow Calgarians — revelling in the Stampede's billing as the "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth" — disagreed with Harper's assessment, many Canadians living elsewhere probably beg to differ.

Captured on video and picked up by the Huffington Post and other national media outlets, Harper's favouritism isn't going unnoticed.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson reportedly said Harper must have been confused.

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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.