If you've ever been to a concert, you've probably heard it before. "(Insert city here) is our favourite place to play!" the lead singer might say at some point in the act. Or, if he or she is really looking for some enthusiasm: "(Insert city here) is the best city in the world!"
It's an easy strategy to drum up positivity and public support, but it can backfire when the speaker isn't complimenting the city he's in at the time.
That's what happened to NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair on Monday, when he called Toronto "Canada's most important city" while answering a question at a campaign event in Vancouver, B.C.
Mulcair's comment came in response to a question about a potential Toronto bid to host the 2024 Olympics.
"I think that seeing Canada's most important city, Toronto, getting those Olympics – I think that's a door we should keep open," Mulcair said.
It's not the first time Mulcair has referred to Toronto in such terms. He's done so multiple times, including at an appearance in Toronto earlier in the election campaign, when he said: "It's great to be back in Canada's most important city."
That may sound like Mulcair was playing to his Toronto audience, but he stuck to that phrasing with his comment in Vancouver on Monday, raising the ire of some non-Toronto residents on Twitter.
Mr. Mulcair came to Vancouver to tell Canadians that Toronto is our most important city. Mulcair should run to be TO's mayor not Canada's PM
— Michael Haack (@michaelhaack)
Sounds a tiny bit pompous. Glad Mulcair thinks Toronto is the most important city in the entire country. WOW
— Mark McCaw (@bigpicguy)
Toronto is Canada's most important city. Good Luck to the rest of us
— McDarryl 97 (@CopyDarryl)
Toronto announced on Tuesday that it will not pursue a formal bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Montreal is the only Canadian city so far to have hosted the Summer Games, while Vancouver and Calgary have each hosted the Winter Olympics.
