Tories on the trail

Plus: Late-breaking modelling, Ford speaks, and Dial-a-Premier goes federal

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

ABOVE THE FOLD

— MEET THE PRESS: “Hey Premier, hope you’re feeling safe without journalists in the room” — CTV News’ bureau chief Colin D’Mello had a spicy greeting for DOUG FORD, who took media questions at Queen’s Park for the first time in a month while revealing the proof-of-vaccination system. Reporters still aren’t allowed in the room — despite pandemic rules allowing 25 people indoors. That isn’t exactly conducive to the kind of questioning that gets meaningful answers. Ford was mostly unfazed, raising his eyebrows ever so slightly. Clip.

— BACKBENCH’ED: PC MPPs have the all-clear to campaign for federal candidates, though their caucus-mates in cabinet were benched, by order of the Premier’s Office. The Globe had reported that cabinet ministers and their staff were told not to campaign for Team O’Toole — and three senior sources confirmed to me that there was no discussion with caucus at large about getting involved on the f…