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If you follow Ontario politics, you’ve no doubt heard of the Skills Development Fund (SDF). One of the Ford government’s signature initiatives, the multi-billion-dollar program doles out taxpayer dollars to companies and organizations that provide training programs and other support for workers.
Premier Doug Ford has called it “the best investment we’ve ever done in the province.”
But the Skills Development Fund has been at the centre of a political firestorm during the current sitting of the Ontario Legislature — in large part because of investigative reporting from The Trillium, Village Media’s bureau at Queen’s Park.
Our reporting has revealed that some recipients of SDF money have close ties to the Ford government, either through leaders who’ve donated to the PC Party or via well-connected lobbyists.
These deep-dive stories have been fuelled by freedom of information (FOI) requests, a process that can be expensive, depending on how much time and effort it takes provincial ministries to find and prepare requested records.
How expensive? The Trillium recently filed five more requests for specific information regarding the SDF, including emails and other documents — and the ministry came back with a total estimate of nearly $12,000.
That’s why we’ve decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign asking for your support. We’re looking for readers and voters who value our reporting and want to help shine a light on how millions in taxpayer dollars are being spent.
Joining us on tonight's Closer Look podcast to talk about the contribution drive, and the latest news on the SDF scandal, is Jessica Smith Cross, editor-in-chief of The Trillium.
You can read more about the crowdfunding campaign HERE — and if you want to contribute, please click HERE.
Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.
Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed — and on the show’s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
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