Ontario NDP files ethics complaint against scandal-ridden Labour Minister David Piccini

QUEEN’S PARK – Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario NDP, has filed an ethics complaint against Minister David Piccini in relation to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Skills Development Fund (SDF) program.

Stiles’ call for an ethics probe comes after weeks of questions directed at Premier Ford and Minister Piccini about potential preferential treatment and questionable lobbyist connections surrounding the administration of the program.

“Clearly, the Minister is not going to come clean, so we have to use every tool at our disposal to get the answers that the people of Ontario deserve,” said Stiles.

“Despite weeks of embarrassing headlines, and the mountain of evidence pointing to preferential treatment and insider connections, the Minister continues to shamelessly make excuses instead of taking responsibility.

“From prioritizing low-scoring applicants who are closely connected to the Minister, to handing over millions to the Premier’s favourite night club owner, to millions going to the PC campaign manager’s clients – the Minister’s oversight and administration of this program raise serious red flags.

“We are calling for an ethics probe to shine a light on what looks like a pay-to-play scheme that is rewarding insiders to the tune of millions while workers lose out on opportunities.”

BACKGROUND:

• Stiles has filed a complaint with the Office of the Integrity Commissioner, calling for an investigation into David Piccini, the MPP for Northumberland—Peterborough South and Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
• The complaint calls on the Integrity Commissioner to investigate Piccini for alleged contravention of Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, and 16 of the Member’s Integrity Act in his decisions surrounding the administration of the Skills Development Fund program.
• In her complaint, Stiles calls out preferential treatment for donors and insiders, the Minister’s close connections with low-scoring applicants who received millions in government funds, and issues of fairness and transparency that were raised by the Auditor General.