What the PCs pollster wants to know

Plus: Balagus out, Grits on what's next, big birthday week

ABOVE THE FOLD

SCOOP — BALAGUS OUT: MICHAEL BALAGUS, chief of staff to the leader of the NDP, is exiting Queen’s Park. Balagus — who also served as 2022 campaign manager — announced his resignation effective September 15 in a staff-wide memo.

We scooped the news yesterday, thanks to a party tipster.

The memo — Subject line: Moving on. “Today I notified our leader that I am resigning my role as chief of staff to the leader and caucus effective September 15, 2022. This will provide time for all necessary campaign debriefs and reports to be written. I will also be available to the interim leader and their team to assist in whatever way they wish…I will save my good byes for now, but let me say today what an honour it has been to work for Andrea and with all of you over the years.”

Balagus told me he always planned to leave “after this election regardless of the outcome” and he’ll “be sticking around long enough to tie up the loose ends from the campaign and to help ensure as smooth a tr…