US EditionOntario labour minister under fire after auditor finds office heavily involved in choosing funding projects
The auditor found over half of the $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund went to lower-scoring projects, with more than 60 approved after hiring lobbyists linked to the Progressive Conservative party.
- On Oct. 20, 2025, as legislators returned to Queen's Park, Labour Minister David Piccini was in the hot seat while all opposition parties called on Premier Doug Ford to demand his resignation.
- A review by the province's auditor found Piccini's office heavily influenced the $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund, with more than half the money going to lower-scoring projects.
- Specific findings show more than 60 lower-scoring applicants were approved after hiring lobbyists connected to the Progressive Conservative party, while unions that endorsed Ford also received hefty sums.
- Ford and Piccini pushed back, resisting calls to remove the minister as Piccini touted the fund's help for thousands of workers and vowed to implement auditor recommendations.
- The auditor's findings add to scrutiny as opposition parties said the government turned the program into a `minister's slush fund`, amid an RCMP criminal investigation.
31 Articles
31 Articles
The Toronto Star
Ontario’s labour minister defends training cash given to preferred applicants
Under fire and unrepentant, Labour Minister David Piccini says he will keep handing out cash from Premier Doug Ford's controversial Skills Development Fund to preferred groups regardless of how low
Opposition slams Ford government over Skills Development Fund as MPPs return to Queen’s Park
Ontario’s PC government found itself on the receiving end of a barrage of pointed questions from opposition parties and reporters at Queen’s Park Monday as MPPs used the return to the legislature to grill the Ford government over how money from the $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund was doled out.
Ontario labour minister under fire after auditor finds office heavily involved in choosing funding projects
Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini was in the hot seat Monday, facing a slew of questions and accusations about a $2.5-billion fund as politicians returned to Queen's Park for the first time in months.
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