New: Premier Doug Ford has responded to the opposition leader’s accusation that his government is corrupt: “I don’t hold it against her. Whatever,” he said. “She gets passionate. It’s unfortunate she uses that language, it’s unparliamentary… she does it to get headlines.”

New accusations that the Ford government is appointing conservative donors to top jobs. The NDP is sounding alarms about a new appointee to the college of early childhood educators: a PC donor who, in committee, couldn’t explain the difference between an ECE and a teacher.

Vote on Bill 60 has been deferred until next week.

NEW: critics are calling it an “attack on renters” but the Ford government is moving to push through contentious housing legislation today, with a limited 2hr debate now underway. Bill 60 will give the housing minister more power & allow landlords to speed up eviction hearings.

New today: protests erupted at Queen’s Park after the Ford government passed a controversial new education law that’ll give the conservatives power to override school boards. The education minister says the bill will “put boards back on track,” while critics call it undemocratic.

BREAKING: The Ford government’s controversial education reform bill has passed. The education minister has given himself the power to override school boards. Bill 33 will allow him to establish policies & guidelines, and remove trustees.

Despite vocal opposition, the Ford government’s education bill is expected to pass in under an hour. A large crowd of critics is inside the legislature to oppose the bill. Paul Calandra says he’s reimagining the education system, critics call it a distraction. More to come.

Moments ago at Queen’s Park: Opposition Leader Marit Stiles is kicked out of the legislature after calling the Ford government “corrupt” and refusing to withdraw the comment. She was speaking about the skills development fund & alleged misuse of taxpayer dollars.

Despite rushing through Bill 33, the education minister tells us he has no imminent plans to use his new powers, but adds he’s been watching a “number of school boards… where governance has fallen apart,” and he “won’t hesitate” to step in.

New today: calling it a “top-down power grab disguised as reform,” critics are at Queen’s Park in a last-ditch attempt to stop the Ford government’s education bill from passing. Bill 33 could become law today and would give the education minister more power over school boards.

New today: “I’m not getting rid of him,” says Premier Ford, despite growing calls to fire his labour minister, adding he doesn’t believe in “micromanaging every minister.” David Piccini is accused of funneling taxpayer dollars to PC lobbyists through the Skills Development Fund.

Ontario food banks have penned a letter to Premier Doug Ford calling for relief to renters. They say the high cost of rent is the primary reason more than 1 million Ontarians rely on food banks & they’re “terrified” of Bill 60, which will make it easier to evict tenants.

Metrolinx’s final 30-day Eglinton Crosstown LRT test has stretched past 30 days, with no end in sight. With just 6 weeks to go in the year, CEO Michael Lindsay couldn’t promise a 2025 opening, but didn’t rule it out either.

Just three days after special education advocates launched their “Better Call Paul” campaign urging parents to call Education Minister Paul Calandra with questions & concerns, he ordered school boards to create “student and family support offices” to field those very questions.

Ontario teachers are paying out of pocket for basic classroom supplies, and while Premier Ford is promising them new “purchasing cards,” the head of the secondary teacher’s union @osstf tells us teachers don’t need special credit cards, they need properly-funded schools.

NEW: Premier Ford reveals his government will soon be handing out “purchasing cards” for teachers to buy supplies like pencils & paper. He’s also doubling down on his government’s decision forcing financially-strained school boards to pay $350K to the supervisors he appointed.

Parents defied the Ford government’s livestream ban at a school board committee meeting last night. They recorded & broadcast the TDSB’s special education meeting despite the education minister ordering them to stop. “Why on earth would there be any interest in suppressing this?”

With no new money for schools in the Ford govt’s mini budget, educators are calling it “deliberate neglect” of “struggling students,” @ETFOpresident. “If any parent is hoping their child will have smaller classes or supports in class - that’s not coming,” added @MaritStiles.

Moments ago: Premier Doug Ford defends decision to pay school supervisors $350k annually, says trustees “need to be held accountable” for their spending. At the same time, a group of parents of children with disabilities are at QP today calling on him to bring trustees back.

*allegedly mishandling