As ‘photo-ops’ become the norm for the Liberals, expect more northern Ont. visits from high-profile federal politicians

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrapped up his visit to Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., on Friday, without any official announcements being made.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Algoma Steel workers in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (Kenneth Armstrong/The Canadian Press)

One political expert believes these types of ‘photo-op only’ visits will become the norm across northern Ontario for federal politicians as the Conservatives lead in the polls.

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“Because the Liberals have been in office for so long, yeah, there's, there's the feeling that there's blood in the water,” said Nipissing University Political Science Professor David Tabachnick.

“By the Conservatives … want to sort of swoop in and eat up to keep the metaphor alive here, eat up all of these ridings that they feel is that the liberals are going to lose.”

Tabachnik told CTV News that the polling indicates many northern Ontario ridings are leaning towards the Conservative in advance of the next Federal Election.

Dr. David Tabachnick, a full-time political science professor at Nipissing University. (File photo/Nipissing University)

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The Prime Minister’s two-day visit to the Sault saw Trudeau visit a variety of businesses in the region – including the municipality transit facility, Indigenous-led Thrive Tours and Algoma Steel.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Liberal MP for Sault Ste. Marie Terry Sheehan meet with Algoma Steel executives Rajat Marwah and John Naccarato during a meet and greet in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (Kenneth Armstrong/The Canadian Press)

The local Liberal Member of Parliament Terry Sheehan touted the trip as a way for Trudeau to speak firsthand with workers ahead of the Labour Day weekend.

“It's great to be, you know, in Sault Ste. Marie with the prime minister over the last couple of days talking with workers, talking about how we've invested, in the places where they work and (how were) investing in them,” he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with MP Terry Sheehan, right, and Mayor Matthew Shoemaker during a scheduled event at the City of Sault Ste Marie Transit Facility on Thursday, August, 29, 2024. (Kenneth Armstrong/The Canadian Press)

Tabachnik said while it is important for the prime minister or any politician to visit communities they represent and see what is out there, the recent stop in the Sault was more than just a pre-Labour Day excursion.

“In this case, I think the Liberals are concerned that this particular riding, may be up for grabs,” he said.

“They might lose it.”

Sheehan has held the Sault riding for the Liberals since 2015, the year Trudeau became prime minister and this is the second time in only 10 months Trudeau has visited Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Sheehan told CTV News he has a close relationship with Trudeau that helps his constituents and may help him come election time.

“It's a great riding. It's very progressive and, you know, I've been honored to, represent three times as a member of parliament here. The prime minister has won three times. He's running again. I'm running again,” he said.

“We don't plan on having an election until October 2025 – but if something happens and there's an election whenever; I'll be ready.”

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Tabachnik is confident that if the Conservatives remain up in the polls and continue to apply pressure for an election northern Ontarians can expect many more high-profile visits from both Liberal and the NDP leaders over the next year as the two parties look to regain their standing in the region.