Doug Ford is promoting Highway 413 and worrying about the kaffiyeh ban, but another issue could be the spoiler in Milton byelection

Mindful the contests are an early electoral test of rookie Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, the Tories have purchased expensive attack ads against her that are airing on Sportsnet during NHL playoff games.

At the same time, the governing party has touted next year’s construction start date for Highway 413, the proposed 52-km Milton-to-Vaughan freeway, and unveiled a classroom cellphone ban for students that appears popular with parents and educators.

Perhaps most surprising to Ford’s PC caucus was his unexpected intervention when Speaker Ted Arnott, who oversees the legislature, banned the Palestinian kaffiyeh from the legislative precinct because it breaks the rule against all “overtly political” attire.

Ninety minutes after the Star revealed the prohibition against the traditional black-and-white scarves — common at pro-Palestinian protests in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks against Israel and the subsequent retaliation by the Israeli military in Gaza — the premier on April 16 issued a statement denouncing Arnott’s ruling.

Tory sources, speaking confidentially in order to discuss internal deliberations, say Ford has explained to MPPs behind closed doors that he acted because there is an influential and growing Muslim community in Milton.

Crombie, NDP Leader Marit Stiles, who plans to revisit the issue Monday in the legislature, and Green Leader Mike Schreiner also oppose Arnott’s decree.

Hamid — a three-term ex-councillor and former Liberal activist — said Ford “did the right thing.”

Naidoo Harris, manager of community affairs for local Liberal MP Adam van Koeverden and the son of former education minister Indira Naidoo Harris, who represented Milton from 2014 until 2018, took to campaigning in a kaffiyeh at times.

But a more prosaic controversy may dominate Thursday’s Milton byelection: the proposed reopening of the Campbellville quarry opposed by many residents and the local council.

“The premier is failing to be clear about whether he will keep his promise to stop the Campbellville quarry. He promised to cancel the quarry nearly four years ago. But now, in the thick of a byelection, his story seems to change day by day,” Schreiner said Wednesday in support of his candidate Kyle Hutton.

“We don’t need an environmental assessment or another round of consultations — the community has been clear that it does not want the quarry built,” said Schreiner.

Pressed about the project Tuesday, Ford said: “It’s in front of an environmental assessment right now and then after the EA is done, we’ll sit down with the community.”

“But I always believe if communities don’t want something, then we don’t do it; if they do, then we move forward with it,” the premier said.

The New Democratic candidate is Edie Strachan, a regional vice-president for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

Both ridings up for grabs were previously held by Ford cabinet members: Parm Gill, the former red-tape reduction minister, in Milton; Monte McNaughton, the long-time labour minister, in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.

In the latter constituency, Chatham-Kent councillor Steve Pinsonneault is the PC candidate, Lucan Biddulph Mayor Cathy Burghardt-Jesson is running for the Liberals, the New Democrat is community activist Kathryn Shailer and the Greens are fielding registered respiratory therapist Andraena Tilgner.

Polls will be open in the two ridings from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.