SmartCentres REIT was registered by Amir Remtulla, a consultant with Amir Remtulla Inc. as well as in-house by Allan Scully, their executive vice president.

"I guess what was reported is not accurate at all. He didn't ask me for help," Ford said about claims that Poilievre sought his advice on winning Ontario.

Calandra, previously handling the housing file, now faces the high-pressure role of managing the province’s schools and negotiating with powerful teachers’ unions.

In his speech, Ford warned that Ontario faces "one of the most pressing and significant challenges in our province's history" due to increasing U.S. protectionism.

Mayor of Springwater Jennifer Coughlin said when she invited Simcoe County members to attend a flag ceremony, a mayoral counterpart reportedly asked her if she was going "dance on the pole for them."

Ford said he believes attitudes had softened after his meeting. "I think he [Lutnick] has totally toned it down," he said of U.S. officials, adding that Ontario’s priority is to be recognized as a "tier one" trading partner.

“Well, again, I'll work with anyone. Right?” he told reporters at Queen’s Park.

Ford was speaking today about the meeting he had last week with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, calling it productive and saying Lutnick is not interested in President Donald Trump's talk of making Canada the 51st state.

Fridays for Future Toronto says in a social media post that protesters demonstrated at Stantec Consulting offices Tuesday morning, and police say two people were arrested for trespassing.

Another issue on his radar is MPP salaries, which have been frozen since 2008.