The mayor of Edmonton on Friday dismissed a survey in Maclean's magazine on the best and worst run cities in the country that put Edmonton in 18th spot out of 31 cities.

The survey considered seven areas: government and finance, taxation, safety and protection, transportation, environmental health, economic development, and recreation and culture.

Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel talks with CBC on Friday about the city's ranking in a new survey published in Maclean's magazine. (CBC) Mayor Stephen Mandel said he's glanced at the survey.

"I'm not one that has much confidence in these surveys. They base their assumptions on things that sometimes have not much validity, or things that cities have much control over," Mandel said.

These kinds of surveys are what Maclean's does and is a way for the magazine to sell its product, the mayor said.

The survey focussed on infrastructure, an area Edmonton is investing heavily in this year, he said.

"This year we're spending $1.7 billion, which is about four times more than we spent five or six years ago," Mandel said.

The best scores for Edmonton came in the area of recreation and culture, where the city placed seventh. The worst score for the city came in transportation, where it placed 27th.

"It's so silly ... we're the cultural capital of Canada for a year ... we've invested in brand new recreation centres, all kinds of new sports fields," he said.

The annual International Street Performers Festival in Edmonton wrapped up last Sunday. (CBC) "I'm sometimes shocked and bewildered at the lunacy of some of these articles when they talk of other cities having festivals when there's no question we have more festivals and more happening in this city, that is world renowned," the mayor said.

He listed off the Fringe Theatre Festival, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, and the International Street Performers Festival as examples.

The mayor said he won't bother to write a letter to the magazine in an attempt to set the record straight because he said it isn't worth it.

"Some guy flips a coin out there, it's the Toronto way of doing things," Mandel said.

The city of Calgary placed 11th overall in the survey.

The top three rated cities are Burnaby, B.C., Saskatoon, Sask., and Surrey, B.C.