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Trudeau returns to Barrie just days before the election (10 photos)

'I've got to tell you, to be able to come back twice to Barrie during an election campaign means something,' Trudeau says to adoring crowd

Just three weeks after Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau's last visit to Barrie and only three days before the federal election, local candidates say they take the campaign stop as a sign that they're "winning" in the two local ridings. 

"It's means we're winning, that's what it means," Lisa-Marie Wilson, the Liberal candidate in Barrie-Innisfil, told BarrieToday moments after Trudeau's campaign bus rolled away this afternoon.

"Today, this close to the (end of) the campaign, you can just feel the excitement in the air," she added. "For me, I was super stoked and super pumped that he came back, because I know it's the prime minister, it's the last couple days of the election, how busy is he? And he's here in Barrie, so what does that say for our community? It says we're ready for change."

Brian Kalliecharan, the Liberal candidate in Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte, agreed with Wilson's assessment. 

"It's a clear indication that Justin sees how hard we're working," he said. "How many doors we're knocking at and how dedicated we are to ensuring that this once blue-leaning riding is now red."

Trudeau stopped into Pie Wood Fired Pizza Joint on Victoria Street, near the city's lakeshore, for about an hour on Thursday to rally his supporters, shake hands and take dozens of selfies among the cheering crowd of around 200 people.

Inside the restaurant, he gave a brief speech — touching on topics such as "investments to help Canadians," climate change and gun control — before making his rounds and then heading back out on the road. 

"I've got to tell you, to be able to come back twice to Barrie during an election campaign means something," he said. "It means Canadians right across the country, including here in Barrie, are excited about making a positive choice in this election and moving forward."

Trudeau said Ontario has seen "what conservative leadership has been all about, with Doug Ford choosing..." before being drowned out by a chorus of boos from the adoring crowd.

"And now Andrew Scheer wants you to double down on Conservative cuts? I don't think so," he added. 

Trudeau said this isn't a time for fiscal cuts. 

"We understand that confident, optimistic countries invest in themselves, invest in the future, and that's exactly what we've done for four years," he said. "But we can't stop now. We need keep helping people, we need to keep helping our small businesses, we need to keep investing in our communities. That's the choice that's on the table."

Trudeau says the jobs of the future will rely on building "a strong, greener economy in which good jobs and protecting the environment go hand-in-hand."

On Sept. 26, Trudeau was also in Barrie for a campaign stop at Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery on Dunlop Street. 

But Kalliecharan says today's visit was different.

"There was a lot more connection to how we are feeling as a Liberal and the momentum and strength that we're building," he said. "Having Justin here a second time reinforces the Liberal platform for 2019, Moving Forward, is strong and real and it is what's going to make a difference for Canadians.

"There is no other choice to make," Kalliecharan added. 

Unlikely the scene that unfolded in Orillia earlier in the afternoon, where two protesters were arrested, the Barrie campaign stop was devoid of any hecklers. 

Trudeau has another campaign stop tonight in Vaughan. 

The federal election is on Monday.