Ford's wishy-washy on Piccini's future, cabinet shuffle

Plus: Gift guide, MPP mailbag, Dining Room influencers

🎄PROGRAMMING NOTE: A reminder that this is a special pre-Christmas dispatch — I’m on a planned hiatus until Monday, January 5. Here are your holiday headlines…

ABOVE THE FOLD

PICKY PREMIER — DOUG FORD appears to be picking sides when it comes to the press.

After getting major blowback last week for refusing to take an SDF-related question from a reporter who trekked to Buffalo for the nuclear MOU signing with the Governor, Ford seemed to be in damage control mode at the Daily Bread Food Bank the following day.

“I do have confidence in DAVID PICCINI,” Ford told reporters, addressing Integrity Commissioner CATHRYN MOTHERWELL’s newly launched investigation into the embattled Labour Minister’s handling of the Skills Development Fund.

Ford made the comment after ducking media in Buffalo, but a couple days before that, he did a lengthy year-end interview (apparently his only one) with Newstalk 1010’s DEB HUTTON.

And if we’re reading between the lines, there could be a cabinet shuffle around …