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Jason Kenney's #PeopleLikeNenshi Remark Raises Eyebrows

#PeopleLikeKenney might need to be a little more careful about their choice of words.
Sarah Rieger
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Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
OTTOWA, CANADA - APRIL 14: Canada's Minister National Defence Jason Kenney speaks during an announcement for a new deployment of 200 troops on a training mission to western Ukraine, joining American and British allies in support of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's combat forces, in Ottowa, Canada on April 14, 2015. Canada will send 200 military trainers to Ukraine, joining the U.S. and Britain in an international effort to shore up the eastern European country's combat forces. (Photo by Cole Burston/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Conservative incumbent Jason Kenney took issue with criticism lobbed by Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi this week, and his choice of words did not go unnoticed.

On Wednesday, Nenshi criticized Tory leader Stephen Harper's stance on the niqab ban as "unbelievably dangerous stuff."

Kenney was quick to take umbrage and responded: “It seems to me that it’s the mayor and people like him who are politicizing [the niqab ban]. I don’t think this should be an issue of contention," Kenney told the Calgary Herald.

Kenney's use of the phrase "people like him" sparked a wave of responses on Twitter.

UPDATE: On Friday, Kenney clarified that he was talking about "politically correct liberals who were politicizing this issue." In an interview with Evan Solomon, the Tory incumbent said suggestions that his comment related to race or religion were "completely ridiculous."

According to Twitter Canada, in the first 24 hours since Paula Simons first tweeted "#PeopleLikeNenshi," the hashtag was used over 14,000 times — Calgary-based accounts made up 55 per cent of the tweets.

Also on HuffPost:

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi: In Quotes
The inspiration.(01 of08)
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At his victory party, Neshi offered up hope his election brings to every child in the city."I do hope that every kid who woke up this morning and their parents showed them the newspaper or turned on the TV — regardless of their background, regardless of their ethnicity or their income or what neighbourhood they live in this city — I hope every kid in the city said, 'Wow, in Calgary I can be anything.'” (credit:CP)
A historic victory.(02 of08)
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When Nenshi won the mayoral election, he made history as Canada's first known Muslim mayor. He doesn't think Calgary cares. (credit:CP)
Tweet this(03 of08)
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Mayor Nenshi is a frequent tweeter, who is either praised on Twitter, or criticized. One tweet got him in some trouble.In a response to blogger Werner Patels, Nenshi tweeted, (credit:Getty)
A nice retort(04 of08)
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Responding to a tweet by Tommy Summer that read, "My limp dick could do a better job running this city," Nenshi responded with, (credit:CP)
The shot heard in Edmonton(05 of08)
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Mayor Nenshi has, on occasion, riled up the provincial government. When he wrote an op-ed in the Calgary Herald, about municipal planning, he took a shot at the powers in Edmonton.Mayor Nenshi did not hold back in making accusations. (credit:CP)
Creating a better world(06 of08)
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Speaking to Calgary is Awesome, Nenshi once again downplayed the role of government in building a better world. (credit:Getty)
Beef with city council.(07 of08)
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Mayor Nenshi got in some hot water with Ald. Dianne Colley-Urquhart, over remarks he made regarding city council. (credit:CP)
The worst kept secret.(08 of08)
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With a sky high approval rating, many Calgarian's believed Mayor Nenshi would run again. (credit:CP)

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