RIDING PROFILE: What you need to know about Sault Ste. Marie

The riding of Sault Ste Marie covers 5,921 square kilometres and has a population of 80,371, most of it in the City of Sault Ste. Marie.

The local economy is anchored by steel manufacturers Algoma Steel and Tenaris Algoma Tubes. In recent years, there have been hopes that a ferrochrome smelter to process ore from the Ring of Fire could bring hundreds of jobs to the city, but some have environmental concerns about the project. 

In a rematch of sorts, incumbent Liberal MP Terry Sheehan will be facing Conservative candidate Sonny Spina, who he defeated in the 2019 federal election by 2,877 votes.

Who's running in Sault Ste. Marie

Marie Morin-Strom, New Democratic Party

Marie Morin-Strom is a high school teacher and union leader from Sault Ste. Marie. Her father, Karl Morin-Strom, represented the same riding at Queen's Park from 1985 to 1990.

"I'm proud of the work that I've done in my career to help students, teachers and families. But I want to do more. I want to use the skills that I have developed as an educator and a union leader to help our community, to get access to quality, affordable housing, to pharmacare, dental care and mental health care. I want to work to make sure every Canadian has clean water to drink and clean air to breathe now and into the future. And I want to do this for my own son and for all children across the country."

Terry Sheehan, Liberal Party of Canada

First elected as MP in 2015, Sheehan served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages. Before that he was a long-serving city councillor in Sault Ste. Marie.  

"Moving forward, I have four-point plan for the Sault build on our $750 billion investment in the area to create jobs and protect the environment, continue to make the Sault a leader in fighting climate change and achieve net zero by 2050. And of course, keeping us safe by finishing the fight on COVID-19 and reducing crime. Make life more affordable for you by making it easier to buy a home and by reducing child care costs to just $10 a day."

Sonny Spina, Conservative Party of Canada

Sonny Spina, born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, was a police officer for 25 years, where he served as detective and media relations officer. He is now managing director of a private security firm and also sits as chair of the Algoma Family Services Foundation.

"The global pandemic has shattered the expectation that you must live where you work. Canada's Recovery Plan will get our economy booming again. Workers, graduates and businesses will have access to opportunities from across Ontario, Canada and across the globe, while staying right here in our community to raise their families. We must support our businesses during this difficult time by buying local. That's why I'm happy to support our Job Surge Plan, which will recover one million jobs within one year."

Kasper Makowski, People's Party of Canada

Kasper Makowski is a first-generation Canadian born of Polish parents. With experience working for the Ministry of Natural Resources and an education in law enforcement, he now runs a construction company. 

"I decided to run in this year's federal election mainly because of a particular set of values that I embrace and that I share with Canadians all over the country. These values are being forgotten. They're being compromised. And frankly, I feel they're being disrespected. These values, such as individual responsibility, respect, fairness and above all else, freedom. These values are the foundation of our legal and political system. They also serve as the backbone of our constitution, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms."

Historical results:

Official Voting Results - General Election (October 21, 2019)

Official Voting Results - General Election (October 19, 2015)