PCs play defence
And mining wins and losses
ABOVE THE FOLD
The Tories are on defence when it comes to their political friends and foes.
First, there’s ZEE HAMID, the PC byelection candidate for Milton who, as first scooped in this newsletter, has a Liberal past. Hamid is singing a different tune now — and Leg Affairs Minister PAUL CALANDRA isn’t sweating the proverbial floor-crosser’s prospects in a swing riding where the Liberals came in close second in 2022.
“We have a lot of things in common,” Calandra told reporters. “He wants to get more homes built faster, so I’m very excited about the byelection coming up.”
Still no word on whether seat-less Grit captain BONNIE CROMBIE will enter the fray. The NDP and Greens have yet to pick their candidates. Time is of the essence, as my sources say Premier DOUG FORD could call the vote any day now.
Get the lay of byelection land.
On to JAMIL JIVANI, federal Conservative byelection victor in Durham and a frequent thorn in the side of the Ford government.
Jivani’s politicall…