Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Lise Vaugeois

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · 1d

Labour minister Piccini says handing $100M in grants to friends and PC backers isn’t corruption—it’s “skills development.”

With 800,000 Ontarians are looking for work, every Skills Development Fund dollar should go to workers—not lobbyists and PC insiders.

#ONpoli

www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti...

Ontario labour minister denies Skills Development Fund used to reward friends, political allies with millions in grants

Ontario’s labour minister is defending upwards of $100 million in grants from a controversial government fund to unions or industry organizations that supported the governing Progressive Conservative ...

www.ctvnews.ca

1 4 10

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · 1d

Labour minister Piccini says handing $100M in grants to friends and PC backers isn’t corruption—it’s “skills development.”

With 800,000 Ontarians are looking for work, every Skills Development Fund dollar should go to workers—not lobbyists and PC insiders.

#ONpoli

www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti...

Ontario labour minister denies Skills Development Fund used to reward friends, political allies with millions in grants

Ontario’s labour minister is defending upwards of $100 million in grants from a controversial government fund to unions or industry organizations that supported the governing Progressive Conservative ...

www.ctvnews.ca

1 4 10

Reposted by Lise Vaugeois

Chris Glover @chrisgloverndp.bsky.social · 2d

1.1 million Ontario jobs are at high risk of automation. Yet, there’s no plan from Ford’s Conservatives to protect these jobs or create jobs for the 800,000 Ontarians already unemployed.

1 3 5

Reposted by Lise Vaugeois

Chris Glover @chrisgloverndp.bsky.social · 2d

Ford's gravy train

Clients of Ford's campaign manager received $100 million from the Skills Development Slush Fund.

The Auditor General called the fund "not fair, transparent or accountable."

#ONpoli

2 13 21

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · 2d

🚨 Doug Ford’s friends are cashing in.

Firm owned by Ford's campaign manager gets $100 million from the Skills Development Fund

800,000 Ontarians are looking for work—and Ford turned a job fund into a slush fund for insiders.

#ONpoli

1 3

Reposted by Lise Vaugeois

Chris Glover @chrisgloverndp.bsky.social · 8d

Two years since the #Greenbelt scandal broke, and it’s the same story: Ford’s friends get richer while Ontarians get priced out of housing, healthcare, and higher education.

This isn’t leadership—it’s government by and for Ford’s insiders. It’s oligarchy.

#ONpoli

5 19

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · 8d

Ford’s Ontario:

➡️ Labour Minister goes to a Leafs game with a company exec.
➡️ Months later, that same company gets $7.5M in public grants.

This isn’t “for the people.” It’s for his pals.

#ONpoli

www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...

Labour minister was in Leafs glass seats with director of company he granted funding to

The ‘lower-scoring’ company got $7.5M of tax dollars through David Piccini’s office and is a client of the lobbyist whose Parisian wedding the minister recently attended

www.thetrillium.ca

2 4

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · 9d

Ford says “it won’t happen again”, after a government vehicle was clocked 12 times driving 50+ km/h over the limit.

Highway safety isn’t optional—it’s a responsibility.

Because nothing says “For the People” like stunt-driving and zero accountability.

#onpoli

2 4

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · 12d

Ford’s $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund gave public tax dollars to poorly rated projects—against civil service advice.

🚨Now Ottawa is investigating.

800,000 Ontarians are looking for work—and Ford turned a job fund into a slush fund for friends and insiders.

#ONpoli

Jessica Smith Cross @jessiecatherine.bsky.social · 12d

NEW: The feds are going to be in touch with the province on the AG's Skills Development Fund report, and they don't sound happy.

They want to ensure their funds were spent “effectively and transparently," and are seeking "due diligence" and "mitigation measures."🔒
www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news...

Become a Trillium insider

www.thetrillium.ca

4 9

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · 16d

Once again, the Liberals are siding with big execs to privatize an essential public service.

This will hit seniors, disabled people and rural communities the hardest. And it means cutting good union jobs.

I am proud to stand with workers. Enough with the cuts. Protect public services!

#ONpoli

2 4

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · 17d

🚨 Ford’s PCs turned Ontario’s $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund into a slush fund.

Applications rated poor, low, medium got millions.

Meanwhile:
⚠️ 800,000 Ontarians out of work
⚠️ 10,000 jobs lost at colleges

This isn’t job creation—it’s corruption.

#ONpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...

Ford government’s handling of Skills Development funds ‘not fair, transparent or accountable,’ auditor finds

In a critical audit, Shelley Spence said Ford’s Ministry of Labour awarded money to the “low- and medium-ranked applications” from the controversial fund.

www.thestar.com

5 3

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · 17d

🚨Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act is collapsing in court.

253,000 charges withdrawn in a single year—speeding, running red lights, careless driving.

Victims left without justice, drivers without consequences.

Highway safety shouldn’t be optional.

#ONpoli

www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...

1 2

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · 22d

🚨800,000 Ontarians are looking for work.
🚨10,000 jobs lost at Ontario colleges

and the Ford government is using the $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund as a personal slush fund?

#ONpoli

4 6

Reposted by Lise Vaugeois

Chris Glover @chrisgloverndp.bsky.social · 23d

💰Ontario for sale

Interested in buying:
-Greenbelt lands
-Ontario Place
-Schools
-Provincial Parks
-Healthcare system
-Service Ontario contracts?

Ford has 5 fundraisers this week.

Meanwhile, the Legislature sits empty.

#ONpoli

16 28

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · 24d

Ontarians aren’t buying Ford’s scapegoating of school trustees.

A new poll shows most people know the real crisis in education is underfunding—NOT local accountability.

Local voices matter. Cuts hurt kids. Tell Ford to fund our schools.

#onpoli #onted

www.cp24.com/local/toront...

Ontarians skeptical of eliminating school board trustees: poll

A new public opinion poll finds Ontarians aren’t clamouring to eliminate school board trustees and are skeptical such a change would improve the education system.

www.cp24.com

1 8 13

Reposted by Lise Vaugeois

Chris Glover @chrisgloverndp.bsky.social · 24d

Ontarians see through Ford's attempt to get rid of democratically elected trustees.

57% of Ontarians agree the main problem is underfunding.

Tell Ford to fund our schools.

#OntEd #ONpoli

www.cp24.com/local/toront...

Ontarians skeptical of eliminating school board trustees: poll

A new public opinion poll finds Ontarians aren’t clamouring to eliminate school board trustees and are skeptical such a change would improve the education system.

www.cp24.com

4 23 43

Reposted by Lise Vaugeois

Chris Glover @chrisgloverndp.bsky.social · Sep 17

Ontario's deficit rising to $12 billion 2025-26.

Ontario's debt rising to $549.3 billion in 2029-30.

Ford can save money by cancelling the $2.3 billion taxpayer subsidy for a private luxury spa at Ontario Place and the $100 billion fantasy 401 tunnel.

#ONpoli

toronto.citynews.ca/2025/09/17/o...

Ontario deficit and debt to grow significantly over next 5 years: FAO report

A new FAO report projects the province's deficit and debt will grow significantly over the next five years.

toronto.citynews.ca

3 13 27

Reposted by Lise Vaugeois

Chris Glover @chrisgloverndp.bsky.social · 29d

Ford's gravy train.

$6.5 million taxpayer dollars went to Ford's friend to train staff at his nightclub.

Meanwhile, $1500 per student per year is cut from the education budget.

The Auditor General is investigating.

#ONpoli

www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...

Group training workers for ‘Rob Ford’s favourite nightclub owner’ got $6.5M in provincial skills development funding

Training takes place at Zlatko Starkovski’s event venue at Exhibition Place

www.thetrillium.ca

2 23 29

Reposted by Lise Vaugeois

Chris Glover @chrisgloverndp.bsky.social · 25d

Ford's gravy train

▶️Pace Law
Donate $28,000
Receive $3.3M

▶️King animal hospital
Donate $80,000
Receive $1.3M

▶️FGF Brands
Donate $66,000
Receive $1.2M

Ford is using the $2.5 billion Jobs Training Fund as a personal slush fund

Auditor General is investigating

www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...

Critics blast millions in Skills Development Fund grants given to PC-friendly companies

A law firm, a private animal hospital and a large commercial bakery are among the recipients with ties to the PCs

www.thetrillium.ca

6 34 54

Reposted by Lise Vaugeois

Chris Glover @chrisgloverndp.bsky.social · 25d

The ONDP passed a Convention Resolution—Securing our Future by Investing in Post-Secondary Education.

We need to reverse the decline of our colleges & universities.

Debt should never be the price of education—and a progressive society must invest in its future.

#onpoli #OntEd

2 5 17

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · Sep 16

🚨 People power works. After NDP pressure, 185 unsafe truck drivers have been pulled off the road and the Auditor General is probing commercial truck licensing.

We need better training & testing, and adequate Ministry of Transportation enforcement.

Families deserve safe highways.

#ONpoli

2 3

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · Sep 4

While I was driving us to our Caucus retreat in Collingwood, my colleague @chrisgloverndp.bsky.social drove the point home about Ford's real plan for our public schools.

Privatization.

We have to stand up now—for our children’s future, and for the trustees we elected to defend it.

#ONpoli

2 3

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · Aug 29

Safe roads strengthen our economy, connect communities, and creates good jobs across the province, making Ontario stronger in the face of tariff threats.

#onpoli

Lise Vaugeois @lisevaugeois.bsky.social · Aug 29

Highways 11 and 17 are the lifelines of Northern Ontario; yet they remain some of the deadliest roads in the country.

Ontario NDP are calling on the Ontario government to implement their Northern Highway Strategy and finally deliver progress on making highways 11 and 17 safer.

#ONpoli

2 4 7