City Hall calls Ford's bluff

Plus: A different kind of buzz

DARE TO DOUG

As the provincial government’s legislation to take over Toronto’s island airport chugs through committee this week — including a “rough ride” for the Transportation Minister — City Hall is gearing up to ask Premier DOUG FORD to put his money where his mouth is when it comes to public sentiment.

Ford has oft pointed to internal polling (subsequently leaked) that suggests broad support for his pitch to expand Billy Bishop. While the Campaign Research survey framed the question as a matter of safety regulations, and support for that move was higher the further away from downtown Toronto respondents were, the Premier has leaned on those numbers to plow ahead with his plans.

Now, City Hall wants him to walk the talk. This week, councillors are considering a motion to ask the province to approve a referendum to gauge public opinion on the jet question. By law, referendum questions must be submitted by March 1 in order to get on the ballot by the fall election, but Ford announce…