Millions of dollars from Ontario’s Skills Development Fund went to Progressive Conservative donors, fuelling accusations that the fund has turned into a “slush fund” for government allies.

Opposition parties say a growing number of companies have received grants from this multi-billion-dollar program while their directors or executives have made significant contributions to the governing party.

The criticism comes just one day after a bombshell Auditor General report revealed that political staff, against the advice of non-partisan public servants, directed about $750 million in grants to applicants of their choosing.

Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner reacted by saying:
 “The Ford government has taken a program, originally designed to train workers, and turned it into a tool to reward people close to the premier.”

In response, Labour Minister David Piccini defended the fund, arguing that political staff were best positioned to make decisions during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of U.S. tariffs. He said:
 “It’s important that I and the government—elected by the people—ultimately have a say in where these grants are going.”

The $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund is one of the Ford government’s flagship programs. Officials claim that about 1,000 projects have been supported through it, enabling over 100,000 participants to find employment within 60 days of training completion.

One such project involved Dentacloud, a company that facilitates the sale of dental practices to private equity firms. It received over $2 million in the fourth round of funding and reported training 349 participants, leading to more than 70 hires.

But Dentacloud’s leadership also shows close political ties. Director John Maggirias has donated more than $23,000 to the PCs since 2022 and was nominated by Doug Ford for a King Charles Coronation Medal.

Another example is Nick Simone, CEO of Pace Law Firm and chair of Metrolinx, who was also nominated by Ford for the same medal. Pace is slated to receive $3.3 million from the fund.

Earlier reports highlighted other companies tied to PC donors, including Scale Hospitality (with $11 million in funding) and Canadian Niagara Hotels Inc. (with $9 million).

Unions have criticized the government for funnelling public funds to private training providers while public colleges face program closures due to a sharp decline in international student enrollment.

Nevertheless, Minister Piccini continued to defend the program, saying:
 “The Skills Development Fund is meeting training needs across Ontario and changing people’s lives for the better. Its flexibility allows us to provide training at any age, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive.”

Source: CTV News (October 2, 2025, by Jon Woodward)