Setting sights on the North

Plus: Rumblings of a post-shuffle staff shakeup

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

ABOVE THE FOLD

Premier DOUG FORD drove to North Bay Monday for a government announcement about long-term care — which set off a barrage of questions over making the personal support worker wage bump permanent — and to headline a $1,000-a-ticket in-person fundraiser for the PC Party — much to the NDP’s disgust.

In his convoy were a pair of ex-finance ministers: ROD PHILLIPS — previously relegated to the backbench, now in charge of LTC — and VIC FEDELI, who’s been on the Economic Development file since being shuffled post a cut-heavy budget.

The big question: Will the $3-an-hour wage bump continue beyond its current expiry in August?

Ford said “it’s a guarantee” and “we’re going to keep that in place” — but details are scant. Ford’s spokesperson IVANA YELICH maintained he “has said many times before he is committed to making this permanent,” but she didn’t offer any specifics on how and when. It’s already been renewed four times since …