Calgary’s popular mayor is the second most important person in Canada, behind only to the nation’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This is according to Maclean’s most powerful list. The magazine explained that its power list is aimed at Canadians who command the spotlight but who also have a knack for operating from the shadows. The list focuses on those Canadians who possess, “institutional clout, capacity for innovation and timeliness.”
“We tend to closely associate wealth and power, but it would be foolish — and boring — to ignore the clout of those whose paycheques wouldn’t be all that impressive, whether public servant or priest, creative thinker or cultural arbiter,” states the national publication.
Nenshi, the first Muslim mayor of a major Canadian city, has made headlines since he was first elected three years ago. He is also the first member of a visible minority to hold the office. Nenshi has been placed at the top of polls, making him one of the most popular mayors.
Our friends down east in Canada’s largest city, Toronto, are rightly jealous of our precious mayor so much so that some Torontonians have even suggested a swap with their trouble-plagued mayor Rob Ford.
During the 2010 municipal elections, Nenshi was asked if Calgary was ready for a Muslim mayor. I was annoyed when I heard about it. I had to write a hard-hitting column in his defense, saying that when voters go to cast their ballots during an election, they look at the credentials and qualifications of a candidate, not his religion, which is not even mentioned on the ballot.
“What voters should look for is the candidate’s ability for the job and then cast their ballots for the best candidate. Hence, what is wrong with being a Muslim and mayor of a city is beyond me. It’s interesting to note that none of the stories have mentioned religious affiliations of the two frontrunners, Barb Higgins and Ric McIver,” I wrote at the time.
“It is sad that every time a visible minority candidate stands for office, the media bring his ethnicity and religion forward. Why would a Muslim mayor be different from a Christian mayor? Would a Christian mayor be better than a Muslim mayor? Are there any qualifications that a Christian mayor has and a Muslim mayor lacks? To me, the only difference is their religious beliefs,” I said.
“And even if he were a Muslim, so what? Does it mean that he will be less able to govern? Is being a Muslim leader a lesser qualification than being a Christian leader?”
Anyway, all that is now history. Our Harvard-educated mayor has performed well to the satisfaction of the electorate, majority of whom are non-Muslims. In the last municipal election held in October this year, he was re-elected with 73.6 per cent of the vote, putting his former critics to shame.
As always, people holding public office also have their critics and enemies. Now Mayor Nenshi is facing a $6 million defamation suit by Shane Homes CEO Cal Wenzel. The case is in front of the courts so I don’t wish to debate the pros and cons of it, but it looks like a case of revenge and a classical example of sour grapes.
Mr. Wenzel demanded an apology and he decided to file a suit because the mayor refused to apologize. Should one apologize because one is really sorry or should one apologize because one is scared of the repercussions, financial or otherwise?
During elections – municipal, provincial or national – politicians make statements, sometimes wild, in the heat of the moment. If every politician were to be sued by someone, then our courts would have time for anything else but suits alleging defamations.
As a member of the Shia Muslim Ismailis, of which the mayor is a member, and that of visible minority, I am of course proud of the mayor’s performance record and achievements. For many in the community, especially the youth, he is a role model.
My prediction is that the mayor is bound to use his popularity in seeking a public office either provincially or nationally. And I hope he does.
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