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$100 million in Skills Development Fund grants traced to lobbyists with ties to Ontario premier
Audit found $742 million in grants awarded to low-scoring applicants linked to lobbyists, raising concerns about fairness and political interference in Ontario’s Skills Development Fund.
- Trillium's review found clients of lobbyists tied to Premier Doug Ford received more than $100 million from the Skills Development Fund, mostly through Rubicon Strategy owned by Kory Teneycke.
- The Auditor-General's report found political staff in the office of Ontario's Labour Minister overrode civil servants more than half the time, directing $742-million to poor, low or medium-ranked applicants.
- The audit detailed 64 low- and medium-ranked applicants enlisted lobbyists and received $126 million, while 39 higher-ranked applicants with lobbyists received about $58 million; Rubicon Strategy was registered for 16 organizations.
- In a statement on Monday, Patty Hajdu's office said Employment and Social Development Canada will undertake full due diligence and seek mitigation measures while reviewing the Auditor-General's report, noting the Ontario government has not provided comprehensive recipient details despite requests.
- Ontario announced future Skills Development Fund grants will be funded by Ontario taxpayers, pledging $805 million over three years, while Marit Stiles said `Something doesn't smell right`.
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‘Something doesn’t smell right’: $100 million in Skills Development Fund grants traced to lobbyists with ties to Ontario premier
Clients of lobbyists with ties to Ontario's premier and his office snagged at least $100 million in Skills Development Fund grants, according to an analysis of the data by CTV News.
·Canada
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Total News Sources3
Leaning Left0Leaning Right0Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution100% Center
Bias Distribution
- 100% of the sources are Center
100% Center
C 100%
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