Round two: Ford vs. unions

Also: AG's gift to government watchers, FAO: PCs $3.5B short, ATU for Stiles, Schreiner calls in ethics watchdog over Greenbelt, staff exits

ABOVE THE FOLD

BILL 124 APPEAL — The Ford government is headed back to court to appeal a judge’s decision that struck down its controversial wage-capping Bill 124.

The hit back: “We are reviewing the decision. Our intention is to appeal,” reads the email statement from ANDREW KENNEDY, press secretary to Attorney General DOUG DOWNEY.

It’s brief but not surprising — governments often use the before-the-courts line to evade direct questions about a legal matter — however, that’s really more of an excuse than a rule.

Back in 2019 when he introduced the bill as then-president of Treasury Board, now-Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY said it was a “time-limited” approach to curbing the deficit and that he was confident the law would stand up to a Charter challenge.

But the Superior Court ruled the opposite.

The decision: Earlier, Justice MARKUS KOEHNEN dropped an 80-page ruling deeming Bill 124 — which limited most public sector wage increases to 1 per cent a year for three years — unco…