Chain reaction in Scarborough

And Ford plays defence

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Premier DOUG FORD weighed in on everything from his plans to gut FOI laws (blame communism!) to his questionable law-and-order crime solutions. But first: a compelling new federal poll is rippling out at Queen’s Park.

POLL WATCH — The latest survey from Mainstreet Research gamed out three scenarios for the what is expected to Ottawa’s next byelection, in Beaches-East York.

The riding is currently held by MP NATE ERSKINE-SMITH, who has promised to resign once the provincial byelection is called in Scarborough Southwest — something that was triggered by the defection of ex-Ontario NDP deputy leader DOLY BEGUM, who is now carrying the federal Grit banner in the riding formerly held by BILL BLAIR.

The results suggest that if Erskine-Smith — who is gunning for the provincial nomination in SSW and eyeing the leadership — had instead stuck around on the Hill, he would hold on to his seat handily, with 67 per cent support.

But if AVI LEWIS, a frontrunner in the federal NDP leade…