SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
About 300 people including a crush of local and national media crowded into the wooden teepee at Mildred Hall School on Oct. 9 to hear Justin Trudeau speak about Northern issues.

Trudeau pauses for a selfie with Chelsea Kelly, left, and Sharon Morrison in Yellowknife on Oct. 9. Trudeau gave a speech to hundreds of supporters at Mildred Hall School who didn't seem to mind that the Liberal leader was more than an hour late and then spoke for only 15 minutes. - Walter Strong/NNSL photo

Those in attendance were required to sign in with contact information before they were allowed into the room. Plainclothes RCMP officers wearing earpieces stood among the audience, composed mostly of local Liberal supporters of all ages.

Trudeau's visit to the capital city came 10 days before Canadians go to the polls in the federal election on Oct. 19.

It seemed to matter little to the partisan supporters that Trudeau arrived an hour and 10 minutes late. He spoke for about 15 minutes and then met with fawning fans.

"I was in Ottawa in the 1960s when Trudeaumania broke out. I was there when he was born on Christmas Day when he was born - young Justin - and now the circle is full," said Judith Sharp. "This is Justinmania."

Trudeau, accompanied by his wife Sophie Gregoire, received the loudest applause when he promised to raise the Northern living allowance if he becomes the next prime minister.

"We all know how expensive it is to live here. That's why we have the Northern residents deduction. It was designed to help you with the higher costs of things you need every day and help attract workers here to the North. The reality is that under the Harper government the deduction has not kept pace with inflation," Trudeau said. "That's why we will change it. We will increase the residency component of the deduction by 33 per cent to $22 a day. This will provide a new annual maximum deduction of $8,000 a year. And we'll index that benefit to make sure it keeps pace with inflation."

Trudeau, for the most part, did not make himself available to the assembled media, but in an exclusive one-on-one interview with News/North he explained how a Liberal government would pay for the increase in the Northern residency deduction.

"We've been very clear. We're going to run three years of modest deficits and balance the budget in 2019. We think that this is the responsible thing to do," he said. "Quite frankly, Mr. Harper likes to talk a lot about the North but he doesn't say that the best way to strengthen the North and anchor our sovereignty in the North is to support the people who live here."

Trudeau also said a Liberal government would prioritize investments in affordable housing and climate change preparedness.

The visit attracted some high-profile supporters, including former NWT Liberal MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew and Nunavut Liberal candidate Hunter Tootoo.

News/North asked a number of Liberal supporters at the event why they think Trudeau should be prime minister.

"I've had an opportunity to work alongside him and he has excellent leadership skills and I believe that he will be more effective than other candidates in leading our North to a more prosperous place," said Yvonne Doolittle, one of several GNWT employees who attended the event.

Jordie Reid conceded there are females who say they may vote for Trudeau because he is an attractive man. She said she is not in that category.

"It doesn't matter to me. I follow what each party is bringing forward and I just think the Liberals have the best plan," she said. "He's a really inspirational public speaker. I could feel my heart beat faster just because of what he was saying and he seems so genuine. He seems like he really cares about Canada, Canadians and what our future holds."

It was not entirely roses and sunshine for Trudeau on this night. One observer, who did not give his name, grumbled when Trudeau was more than an hour late.

"I don't understand why (Liberal candidate) Michael McLeod is here. He should be meeting him at the airport and briefing him on the local campaign. Why would you leave your local candidate here waiting like the rest of us when Trudeau should be meeting with him and discussing strategy," he said.

Trudeau is the only federal party leader who had not responded to an open letter from Premier Bob McLeod asking the parties to articulate their vision of the North.

Kieron Testart, campaign manager for Michael McLeod, said Trudeau's letter has been sent to the premier, but it still had not been posted to the GNWT website as of press time.

Michael McLeod is the premier's brother.