Calgary Stampede 2015: Is it a high-stakes political rodeo?

The Calgary Stampede and politics go hand in hand.

The leaders of all the major federal parties will be in town as part of an "unofficial" campaign for this fall's federal election. After the Alberta NDP win in May's provincial vote, it seems there will be a lot at stake.

"I think the bigger change this year really for people has been what's happened with the oil price and the slowdown in the economy," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper, when asked about coming to NDP-governed Alberta.

"But I've been in this province for 36 years now. I've seen a lot worse dips in the oil sector than this, and I am very confident that the city and the province will bounce back quickly."

Tom Mulcair's NDP is hoping to capitalize on the Alberta NDP's victory. The party's southern Alberta organization has been minimal in the past, but 14 NDP MLAs were just elected in Calgary.

"People have been looking at us very closely as a matter of fact," said Mulcair. "The breakthrough here in Alberta, breakthrough in Quebec — it really shows the NDP does represent change.

"I travel from coast to coast to coast and hear Canadians want change."

The federal Liberals are also hoping to buck the Tories from their familiar saddle in Alberta.

Kent Hehr and Darshan Kang, both former Liberal MLAs, have been running campaigns for months to try to knock off Conservative incumbents Joan Crockatt in Calgary Centre and Devinder Shory in Calgary Skyview.

"Every year I come to Stampede," said Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. "It's an extraordinary occasion to celebrate this city, to celebrate Alberta and connect with thousands of people who are positive about the future." 

NDP honeymoon over?

Premier Rachel Notley was scheduled to be riding in the Stampede parade Friday morning.

This comes one day after a new poll from Mainstreet Technologies suggested Alberta's Wildrose Party would win if a provincial election were held now, although the next vote is not expected for four years.

• Alberta poll suggests support growing for Wildrose party

"The honeymoon may be over for Premier Notley as the realities of an NDP government sink in for Albertans," said Quito Maggi, president of Mainstreet. "Lots of decisions are being made, and while it may pay off in the long run to do all the heavy lifting at once, for now it is leaving a mixed impression."

The poll even suggests that the Progressive Conservative party has regained the lead in Calgary, meaning Notley has a lot of work to do in city — especially since a byelection will be held for the seat vacated by former premier Jim Prentice in Calgary-Foothills. Prentice won the riding in the May election but resigned immediately on election night after losing the government to the NDP.

The Wildrose Party announced Thursday night during a Stampede event that it will hold a vote on Aug. 15 to pick its candidate in the riding. Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said the party will waive its requirement for this byelection that candidates hold a party membership for six months. 

Ballots to be cast later this year

Bob Hawkesworth officially announced Monday that he will seek the NDP nomination in the upcoming Calgary-Foothills byelection. The former MLA and Calgary city councillor says he wants to return to public life.

The byelection must be held by Nov. 5, but no date has been set yet.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi says that after the parade, all of the MLAs from Calgary will gather at city hall for a meeting with council.

"Just informally with all of the Calgary MLAs, not just the new ones, so it's all about building good relationships and stampede is a good time to do that," he said.

The mayor is hoping he can raise the awareness of urban issues while federal politicians are in town to flip pancakes and woo voters during Calgary Stampede celebrations.

But first he will take part in the parade again — riding on a very calm horse named Garfield.