Photos: Prime minister spends the day in Sault Ste. Marie

The prime minister's morning visit to Algoma Steel went over nicely with the locals.

Justin Trudeau announced $420 million in federal support for the steel mill's planned switch to electric arc steelmaking.

"Today's announcement is the largest and most important public funding announcement in our community's history," gushed Mayor Christian Provenzano.

But outside the Sault, the announcement was not universally well-received.

Heather Scoffield, the Toronto Star's Ottawa bureau chief, was quick to rain all over our parade.

"There’s a lot we don’t know about how the deal is structured and whether the standards established in the Algoma deal will have any influence on the rest of the billions the government has on hand to give or lend to Canada’s biggest polluters," Scoffield wrote.

Also an economics columnist, Scoffield questioned whether Algoma really needed the money, whether the Sault steelmaker might have been quite ready to pay for the proposed changes from its own pocket.

The Canadian Press described Trudeau's visit as "campaign-style."

"Trudeau’s announcement from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., to give a steel plant up to $420 million to phase out coal-fired steelmaking fanned expectations that his government is preparing to send Canadians to the polls," wrote CP reporter Stephanie Taylor.

Talking to reporters afterward, Trudeau spoke out against the recent toppling of statues of Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria at the Manitoba Legislature.

The prime minister also dropped in at Big Lake Cabin on Queen Street, where he was seen mingling with local political heavy hitters like Coun. Lisa Vezeau-Allen and Sally Chateauneuf.

That appearance drew a crowd, as did Trudeau's visit to Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig Centre of Excellence in Anishinaabe Education, directly across the street from the former Shingwauk Indian Residential School.

He toured the recently opened institution and met there with elder Shirley Roach and local chiefs Andy Rickard and Dean Sayers.

"I had a great discussion with Canada‘s Prime Minister Trudeau today," Chief Sayers said in a social media post.

"My narrative included the fulfilment of the spirit and intent of the treaty relationship, moving the yardstick around the treaty annuities obligation, housing and infrastructure, Batchewana’s notice of assertion over territories and jurisdiction, economics, permission as opposed to meaningful consultation and accommodation, the remains that allowed themselves to be discovered in the last while at the residential schools, the many institutions that have had huge impacts on our governance and our lives since the dawn of colonization, and the incredible opportunity we have with this new post-secondary institution called Shingwauk Kinomaage Gamik University," Sayers said.

"There were real acknowledgements on the part of the prime minister and commitment to work with us as we move forward. He envisions a relationship where the plans that Canada embarks on will be borne through us."

"I want to acknowledge everyone that helped make today possible, including our ancestors and spirit for the guidance in the words that were shared," the chief said.

Sault MP Terry Sheehan remarked that today's visit was the prime minister's first venture outside Ottawa since the last quarantine.

On Tuesday, Trudeau will be in Saskatchewan to visit the former Marieval Indian Residential School, where hundreds of unmarked graves were recently discovered.

He and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe are expected to sign an agreement with Cowessess First Nation allowing a transition to a band-administered child welfare system.