Poll watch: PCs take another hit over CUPE

Also: Fresh Fordism, leaky Liberals, McNaughton's union tour, sweetening the deal (again), big public affairs gathering

ABOVE THE FOLD

POLL WATCH — Another day, another public-opinion poll showing the people are siding with education workers in the ongoing standoff with the province.

But according to Maru Public Opinion — which was in the field after Premier DOUG FORD backtracked on Bill 28 and CUPE called off its strike — there’s “no other clear-cut verdict for either party on many elements of the dispute as they return to the negotiating table.”

By the numbers: A majority — 59 per cent — of respondents support the union, versus 41 per cent who back the government.

— Who’s in the wrong when it comes to handling the dispute? Most, 41 per cent, believe it’s the province, while 24 per cent blame CUPE. That said, 29 per cent think both sides are behaving badly.

— The pollster also gauged which of the two parties people believe care most about students returning to class. 31 per cent said the PCs versus 26 per cent for the union. “This is offset by one quarter (23 per cent) who venture that both parties c…