"Rigged:" Race for Speaker boils over

Plus: Chiefs of staff incoming, Education Minister mulls 4-year teacher contracts, Premiers go West, get ready for fourth doses

ABOVE THE FOLD

CHIEFS ON DECK — As we’ve been teasing, word on the street is the new, post-cabinet-shuffle crop of chiefs of staff will be finalized today. I’ll send out a special dispatch as soon as I get my hands on the list.

Like cabinet, there aren’t too many changes to the lineup, and as we’ve previously reported, some Ministers have said goodbye to their top staffers in recent days, including the Ministers of Education, Housing, Colleges and Universities and Indigenous Affairs.

Are you on the list? I want to hear from you, and I’ll keep you anonymous. Reach out: sabrina@qpobserver.ca.

The (current) Speaker enters his apartment at the Leg. Photo: Getty

SPEAKER BOXED — The race for MPP referee is getting heated.

I’ve confirmed reports that the Official Opposition NDP sent a letter to PC Government House Leader PAUL CALANDRA accusing him of “backroom deal-making” over the race for the next Speaker.

As first reported by Queen’s Park Observer, current Speaker TED ARNOTT is vying to st…