Ford holds forth, Bethlenfalvy keeps mum

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ABOVE THE FOLD

FORD SPEAKS — Premier DOUG FORD was front and centre to address a slew of hot-button issues for the first time, fresh off his trip south of the border (we’re guessing somewhere like sunny Florida, based on his tan) and sporting a fresh budget week buzz cut.

What Ford wanted to talk about: For starters, his hair cut by a Spanish-speaking barber in a U.S. Wal-Mart. (“He went right down to the concrete!”) Also: The actual announcement at LiUNA’s training centre in Vaughan, which featured his former political rival and now-Mayor STEVEN DEL DUCA (One of the “best guys” to deal with, often over breakfast. “Have you ever seen Steven and I (get at) a box of Tim Horton’s donuts? They’re done.”)

Drip, drip: Ford dropped another budget teaser — $224 million to train up workers via the skills development fund.

What reporters wanted to talk about: It was the first opportunity to ask Ford about a smorgasbord of matters, from a CSIS briefing on VINCENT KE to the feds’ Greenbelt “adjace…