Fundraising watch: PCs on top, Oppo struggles

Also: Ian Todd's new gig, tinkering with e-health records rules, Ford photo-op, staff moves

ABOVE THE FOLD

THE BIG-TICKET — They’re back! After a post-election lull, the powers-that-be are revving up the money-making machines — and far out-pacing their political rivals.

The PCs have been blasting email appeals to would-be supporters and tonight, rookie MPP and Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry GRAYDON SMITH is headlining a big-ticket fundraising event in Toronto.

Folks who cough up $1,000 each will get a chance to rub elbows with Smith and likely other members from the front bench. That could include the Premier himself, but the PCs no longer divulge whether DOUG FORD will make a cameo. The invite.

But it’s not the first fundraising event since the PCs won a second, bigger majority mandate — new-ish Health Minister SYLVIA JONES was reamed out by Oppo critics when she hosted a fundraising event while hospitals across the province were scaling back or shutting down.

As for the Opposition parties, there’s currently no money-making events on the agenda.

Part of the chal…