How the election will be framed

Rare winter vote is coming

ABOVE THE FOLD

It’s unofficially official: Ontario is headed to the polls February 27.

News leaked Thursday — perhaps rather anti-climactically, as the signs of an early election had been piling up — that the writ drops on January 29.

DOUG FORD was cagey up until that moment. The Premier wound up at that AstraZeneca event and when reporters pressed him on the election date, he would only say “Stay tuned.”

But now that the cat is out of the bag, government is getting into “caretaker” mode.

From Global News: “An internal memo, sent by Ford’s chief of staff PATRICK SACKVILLE on Wednesday, indicated that the Premier’s Office has already consulted with Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner related to the government’s ‘responsibilities during a writ,’ as the PC party prepares to dissolve the legislature.” Ministry offices will also be pared down to two staffers, tops.

Making the media rounds: Both NDP Leader MARIT STILES and Liberal Leader BONNIE CROMBIE hit up CBC’s Power and Politics and CTV’s …