The head of a union that received millions of dollars from Ontario’s $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund calls criticism of how the job training money was distributed “ludicrous” and “ridiculous.”

Joseph Mancinelli, Canadian director of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), was one of 17 leaders who endorsed Premier Doug Ford in the February election while his organization received money from the fund, including “capital” dollars for new training centres.

Labour Minister David Piccini has faced a firestorm of criticism since the provincial auditor general released a scathing report on the fund last month. Shelley Spence said payouts from the fund were “not fair, transparent or accountable,” noting that hundreds of low-scoring applications received funding while hig

See Full Page