Ambler appeals

Plus: Working for the weekend, budget watchdog dashes hopes for balance, Islamophobia vs. procedure, ministerial staff moves, and MPP TikTokers

Good Friday morning. This is Queen’s Park Observer.

ABOVE THE FOLD

It’s shaping up to be a marathon weekend sitting after the PCs invoked the notwithstanding clause and re-tabled parts of the election ad spending law that was struck down as unconstitutional by the Superior Court earlier this week.

Beyond that inside-baseball controversy, today offers an opportunity for the Ford government to change the channel and focus headlines on less contentious news — Ontario entered Step 1 of the reopening plan. But there’s no patios for politicos.

More on that below, but first — an update on the PC nomination drama in Simcoe—Grey, where Premier DOUG FORD appointed Collingwood Mayor, former Olympic rower and now-2022 candidate BRIAN SAUNDERSON.

Former Conservative MP STELLA AMBLER — one of at least three other green-lit but rejected contestants in the Tory stronghold — confirmed my reporting from earlier this week, announcing that she is formally appealing the appointment.

A tipster sent in the f…