Naheed Nenshi Says He Won't Run For Stephen Harper's Seat | HuffPost

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Speculation has started about potential candidates, but Nenshi wants to make it clear he won't be one of them.

Sarah Rieger— The Huffington Post Alberta

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Stephen Harper is bowing out from politics and Calgary's mayor wants to quash any rumours that he might vie for the former prime minister's seat.

Harper is planning to relinquish his Calgary Heritage seat in the fall after 14 years as a member of Parliament.

Speculation has started about potential candidates, but Nenshi wants to make it clear he won't be one of them.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi says he has no interest in running for Stephen Harper's seat. (Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty)

“It is very flattering that people say I could do a good job there but I have said many times that I have the best political job in Canada and I’ve still got 18 months to go in a mandate, so we’re going to make that the best of the 18 months as we can," Nenshi said at a Wednesday event, according to CTV News.

Nenshi also took the opportunity to share some kind words about Harper, his fellow Calgarian.

"His decade in power changed this country in immeasurable ways and you know whether you agreed or disagreed with his politics, Mr. Harper is a man of enormous integrity who has dedicated his entire life to public service and continues to do so," he told CBC News.

"It is very flattering that people say I could do a good job there but I have said many times that I have the best political job in Canada."

The mayor is a political hot ticket — he's been courted by the federal Conservative Party, federal NDP, provincial Progressive Conservatives and the Alberta Liberals, Metro News reported.

But he's always turned them down.

After he was cast as prime minister in a Canadian novel, Nenshi jokingly contacted the author on Twitter to confirm the book was "science fiction."

As for Harper, his next move is still unknown. He is reportedly looking into a career advocating for international causes.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Harper's Legacy: Top Achievements, Failures, According To Poll

(01 of34)

The Angus Reid Institute polled 1,412 Canadians between Oct. 26 and 28, 2015 on the legacy of outgoing prime minister Stephen Harper. The poll had a margin of error of 2.6 per cent, 19 times out of 20.Respondents were given a list of actions taken by Harper's government between 2006 and 2015, and asked to choose its biggest accomplishments and failures. A detailed list of actions can be found online.Here are the results... (credit:Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press)

Reducing the GST from 7 to 5 per cent(02 of34)

One in three — 36 per cent — chose this as the Harper government's top achievement.(Harper stands in front of TVs displaying a 5% GST during a campaign stop in 2005). (credit:Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press)

Balancing budgets in 2006-2008 and 2015(03 of34)

Almost one-quarter — or 24 per cent — highlighted this action as a key achievement.(Harper poses with then-finance minister Joe Oliver as he arrives to table the 2015 federal budget). (credit:Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

Establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and apologizing to First Nations for the residential schools abuses(04 of34)

13 per cent chose this action as a notable achievement.(Harper gives then-Assembly of First Nations chief Phil Fontaine a standing ovation as he responds to the official apology for residential school abuses in 2008). (credit:Chris Wattie/The Canadian Press)

Negotiating trade deals with Europe (CETA) and Asia-Pacific region (TPP)(05 of34)

12 per cent chose this action as a key achievement.(Harper greets European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in 2013). (credit:Yves Logghe/AP Photo)

Moving to exert Canadian power in the Arctic(06 of34)

Nine (9) per cent chose this action as a key achievement.(Harper drives an ATV across the tundra on Baffin Island, near York Sound, Nunavut). (credit:Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Pulling Canada out of the Kyoto Accord on climate change(07 of34)

27 per cent chose this action as the Harper government's most notable failure. (A Canada goose stands on railway tracks as a plant operates in the background in Hamilton, Ont.) (credit:Kevin Frayer/The Canadian Press)

Prohibiting scientists receiving government funding from speaking publicly about their work(08 of34)

26 per cent of respondents said this action was a failure.(A protester in a Grim Reaper costume protests cuts to science policies during a 2012 rally on Parliament Hill). (credit:Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press)

Passing Bill C-51(09 of34)

20 per cent chose this action as a key failure.(A protester demonstrates against C-51 at a March, 2015 rally in Montreal.) (credit:Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

Canada's military combat missions against ISIS and Afghanistan(10 of34)

16 per cent said the combat mission against ISIS was a failure, while 14 per cent said the same of the mission in Afghanistan.(Harper and then-defence minister Peter MacKay look out from a bunker at an operating base in the district of Sperwan Ghar, Afghanistan in 2011.) (credit:Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Lowering corporate tax rates(11 of34)

13 per cent chose this as a key failure.(Harper holds up a pile of money during a 2015 campaign event). (credit:Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press)

(12 of34)

Though Stephen Harper was re-elected in his Calgary riding in the 2015 federal election, many members of his cabinet went down in defeat.Here are some key figures from Harper's inner circle who will not be returning to Ottawa... (credit:Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

Chris Alexander(13 of34)

Cabinet position: Minister of citizenship and immigrationRiding: AjaxFirst elected: 2011 (credit:Aaron Vincent Elkaim/CP)

Joe Oliver(14 of34)

Cabinet position: Minister of financeRiding: Eglinton-Lawrence (Toronto)First elected: 2011Oliver also previously served as minister of natural resources (credit:Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Bernard Valcourt(15 of34)

Cabinet position: Minister of aboriginal affairsRiding: Madawaska—Restigouche (N.B.)First elected: 2011 (though he was a Progressive Conservative MP from 1984 to 1993). (credit:Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Julian Fantino(16 of34)

Cabinet position: Associate defence ministerRiding: VaughanFirst elected: 2010Fantino is probably better remembered for his controversial tenure as minister of veterans affairs. (credit:Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Leona Aglukkaq(17 of34)

Cabinet position: Minister of the environmentRiding: NunavutFirst elected: 2008Aglukkaq previously served as minister of health, and was the first Inuk in Canadian history named to federal cabinet. (credit:The Canadian Press)

Greg Rickford(18 of34)

Cabinet position: Minister of natural resourcesRiding: KenoraFirst elected: 2008Rickford previously served as minister of state for science and technology. (credit:Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Gail Shea(19 of34)

Cabinet position: Minister of fisheries and oceansRiding: Egmont (P.E.I.)First elected: 2008 (credit:Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Tim Uppal(20 of34)

Cabinet position: Minister of state for multiculturalismRiding: Edmonton—Sherwood Park First elected: 2008Uppal also previously served as minister of state for democratic reform. (credit:Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Ed Holder(21 of34)

Cabinet position: Minister of state for science and technologyRiding: London WestFirst elected: 2008 (credit:Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

John Duncan(22 of34)

Cabinet position: Chief government whipRiding: Vancouver Island NorthFirst elected: 2008 (though he also served as an MP from 1993 to 2006).Duncan previously served as minister of aboriginal affairs. (credit:Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press)

(23 of34)

In the 2015 federal election, Thomas Mulcair's New Democrats fell from 95 seats to 44. And several high-profile incumbents from across the country were defeated, usually to Liberal candidates.Here are a few key names that will not be returning to Ottawa... (credit:Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

Paul Dewar(24 of34)

First elected: 2006Riding: Ottawa CentreShadow cabinet role: Foreign affairsDewar also ran for the leadership of the party in 2012. (credit:CP)

Megan Leslie(25 of34)

First elected: 2008Riding: HalifaxShadow cabinet role: Deputy leader, environment (credit:CP)

Peter Stoffer(26 of34)

First elected: 1997Riding: Sackville—Eastern Shore (N.S.)Shadow cabinet role: Veterans affairsStoffer was named Maclean's magazines Parliamentarian of the year in 2013 and frequently won the most congenial MP award. (credit:CP)

Jack Harris(27 of34)

First elected: 2008Riding: St. John's EastShadow cabinet role: National defenceHarris was also the longtime leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party. (credit:CP)

Craig Scott(28 of34)

First elected: 2012Riding: Toronto DanforthShadow cabinet role: Democratic and parliamentary reformScott represented the Toronto riding held by former leader Jack Layton. (credit:CP)

Malcolm Allen(29 of34)

First elected: 2008Riding: WellandShadow cabinet role: Agriculture and Agri-Food (credit:CP)

Françoise Boivin(30 of34)

First elected: 2011 (though she served from 2004-2006 as a Liberal MP)Riding: GatineauShadow cabinet role: Justice (credit:CP)

Robert Chisholm(31 of34)

First elected: 2011Riding: Halifax AtlanticShadow cabinet role: Fisheries, deputy employment insuranceChisholm served as leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party and ran for the federal leadership in 2012. (credit:CP)

Ryan Cleary(32 of34)

First elected: 2011Riding: St. John's South—Mount PearlShadow cabinet role: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (credit:CP)

Jinny Sims(33 of34)

First elected: 2011Riding: Newton—North DeltaShadow cabinet role: Employment and Social Development (credit:CP)

Pat Martin(34 of34)

First elected: 1997Riding: Winnipeg CentreShadow cabinet role: Public Works and Government ServicesMartin is perhaps the most quotable politician in Canada. (credit:CP)

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