Can fiscally-conservative Crombie beat big-spending Ford?

And trouble ahead for the PCs

ABOVE THE FOLD

Voters have a love-hate relationship with the Ford government, fresh polling suggests. Over in Liberal land, Crombie files her leadership paperwork and prepares for a flashy campaign launch — while Bowman bows out. But first: some high-level Stellantis scuttlebutt.

First in Observer — STELLANTIS WATCH — Word on the street is that Treasury Board held an impromptu late afternoon meeting yesterday to talk about the enhanced agreement with the automaker that’s been seeking bigger subsidies (a la Volkswagen) from Ottawa and Ontario. Its future EV battery plant in Windsor hangs in the balance.

Hush-hush: Ministry officials weren’t willing to confirm details on the record — these things are typically held close to the vest — but Premier DOUG FORD previously confirmed the province will cough up one-third of the cash.

POLL WATCH — Voters could be ready for a change in government — but Ontario is still the PCs to lose.

Upshot: Abacus Data’s latest public-opinion survey puts the r…