During the 1993 federal election, Apps worked closely with Senator David Smith as election readiness chair for the Greater Toronto Area, an election in which the Liberal Party won every Toronto seat. He has played a key role in recruiting a number of prominent Liberal politicians into public life including former Prime Minister Paul Martin, former Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and the first female black Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, Jean Augustine. He was also a backer of Ignatieff's 2006 and 2008 Liberal leadership bids.