Between the lines: Ford's first presser of 2024

And shuffle time?

Presented by Ontario’s Universities

ABOVE THE FOLD

FORD HOLDS FORTH — It had been a hot minute since reporters got to grill the Premier on the latest political hot potatoes facing his government, so naturally, DOUG FORD fielded almost all the questions at his joint presser with the feds on Wednesday.

Here’s what he said at his first press conference of the year — and the key takeaways:

On PARM GILL (Milton) hopping over to the federal arena, making him the fifth cabinet minister to leave in the past year: “I wouldn’t say they’re jumping ship. I think the world of Parm, I wish him all the best. He was a federal MP before. And I believe that the people of Ontario have a lot of confidence in us — all you have to do is look at the polls.”

As for his other MPPs who may be eyeing greener pastures on the Hill (In case you missed our earlier scoops, we’re naming names. And then some): “No one has a handcuff on anyone…I appreciate our team and to be very frank, I have the best team ever assembl…