The House is back. But it isn't the biggest show in town.

And the Liberals creep back

ABOVE THE FOLD

SPRING AWAKENING — After a very long 102-day winter hiatus, Premier DOUG FORD is finally hauling MPPs back to the Pink Palace this morning. But if you’re expecting a long, gruelling spring grind, think again: the legislative clock is ticking fast, with only 32 sitting days scheduled before the House is set to rise for summer break.

Before we dig in to all that, there’s another story brewing in Ottawa that poses a big threat to the current administration at Queen’s Park: the Supreme Court is set to hear a challenge of Quebec’s secularism law, Bill 21, which has morphed into a legal battle over the constitution itself, namely, the notwithstanding clause.

The Ford government has used the Charter-override prolifically, and Ontario is arguing as an intervenor along with some other provinces that having the courts weigh in would effectively undermine their strongest policy tool, provincial sovereignty and the intent of the constitution.

On the flip side, Ottawa is looking for l…