'One-term premier'

Plus: The New Blues' war chest, Grit ads dominate on Facebook, fresh faces in Piccini's office, and Ford on wildfires and back-to-school

Good Tuesday morning. This is Queen’s Park Observer.

ABOVE THE FOLD

FORD SCRUMS IN OTTAWA — In town to announce an extra $16.9 million in operating funding for the Ottawa Hospital — and to later glad-hand PC supporters at a $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser — Premier DOUG FORD took questions on everything from domestic vaccine certificates to the back-to-school plan. Here’s what went down.

— On the wildfire situation up north: Ford will visit the command centre in Thunder Bay tomorrow and promised to “spare no expense” in getting the necessary resources to bring the fires under control.

But the province stopped short of declaring a state of emergency — something the NDP and First Nations have been calling for. That’s despite the fact that about 3,000 people had to be evacuated from First Nation communities — including Poplar Hill and Deer Lake.

By the numbers: Wildfires have almost doubled this year compared to the 10-year average — to more than 900 versus 520, according to officials at a tech…