Queen’s Park reporter for The Trillium. Sleek, vigilant puma. jack@thetrillium.ca | Signal: jackhauen.33
When we pushed the transportation minister on it, he said the amount of taxpayer money given to the premier's friend's company is "private." #onpoli www.thetrillium.ca/news/governm...
Ford friend’s Metrolinx settlement ‘private’: transportation ministerCarmine Nigro’s development group sought $500 million in expropriation battle over ‘air rights’ it did not ownwww.thetrillium.caSources working on the project say Metrolinx simply stopped talking to them. Leaked C-suite minutes, premier's office emails, and sources with first-hand knowledge flesh out a picture of what one former employee called "pure chaos." #onpoli www.thetrillium.ca/news/municip...
Metrolinx ‘blocked’ key tasks, then fired partners for missing deadlines: reportInternal emails and minutes hint at what a source called 'pure chaos' behind the sceneswww.thetrillium.caMetrolinx's COO said the leaked report that found GO trains to be in "poor" condition was "taken out of context." “There's nothing that would operate out there with a deficiency that would be safety critical to any railway." #onpoli www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news...
Become a Trillium insiderwww.thetrillium.caFacing questions over the state of the GO fleet and a near-miss Metrolinx did not publicize, Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said GO trains are among the safest in the world. “People are really trusting the GO Transit network,” he said. #onpoli www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news...
Minister defends Metrolinx’s safety record after reports of maintenance issues, near missReport on ‘poor’ condition of GO trains ‘taken out of context,’ agency’s COO sayswww.thetrillium.caThe Liberals planned for it to be one of the site's "anchor tenants," but couldn't get it done before the PCs were elected. The Ford government shortlisted the pitch as well, but ultimately ditched it for Therme/Live Nation. #onpoli www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news...
Become a Trillium insiderwww.thetrillium.caTwo longtime Hollywood execs pitched a combination film and TV production facility and "Universal City" experience with studio tours, rides and an amusement park. "Potential partners" included Universal, Sony, Google and Amazon. #onpoli www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news...
Become a Trillium insiderwww.thetrillium.caFrom last week: A non-profit with ties to Drake got $3.3 million from Ontario’s Skills Development Fund — but has since shut down, and the province claims the group owes it money. It matches an example from the AG report of a low-ranked group picked by the MO. www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Ford government seeking money back from defunct Skills Development Fund recipient with ties to DrakeThe not-for-profit got more than $3 million in taxpayer funds before it shut downwww.thetrillium.caFrom Monday: 63% of this round’s $345M Skills Development Fund went to groups led by PC donors. The top recipient held a $120k fundraiser for Labour Minister David Piccini months before it got $14M. www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
Groups led by PC donors received majority of recent Ontario training fundsOne group received $14 million, the largest grant of the Skills Development Fund’s fifth round, after hosting a $120,000 fundraiser for the labour minister’s riding associationwww.thetrillium.caFrom Tuesday: Labour minister’s fundraiser cancelled David Piccini, who’s been under fire over how the Skills Development Fund has benefited PC donors and friends, said it was called off due to a ‘personal commitment’ www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Labour minister’s fundraiser cancelled amid Skills Development Fund controversyMinister David Piccini, who’s been under fire over how the fund has benefited PC donors and others with ties to the party, said it was called off due to a ‘personal commitment’www.thetrillium.caFrom yesterday: The church where a Ford government cabinet minister was married got $2.8M from the Skills Development Fund and Labour Ministry. It’s one of three places of worship to get SDF grants, all with apparent PC connections. www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Church where PC cabinet minister was married got $2.8M from Skills Development Fund, ministryGurdwara that posted Ford endorsement also received SDF grantwww.thetrillium.caFrom today: The Ford government gave millions of tax dollars through the Skills Development Fund to a company with a PC Party vice-president, and another group run by an unsuccessful PC candidate. #onpoli www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Ford government gave training funds to groups involving PC party VP, candidateLabour Minister David Piccini and his predecessor altogether granted the company and developers’ association upwards of $5.75 millionwww.thetrillium.caThe federal government says it will be getting in touch with the province about the fund, and doesn’t sound happy. #onpoli www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news...
Feds to review effectiveness and transparency of Ontario’s Skills Development Fund after scathing auditor general reportThe grant program slammed by the province’s auditor general as ‘not fair, transparent or accountable’ was partially funded by the federal governmentwww.thetrillium.caTwo former chiefs of staff to Michael Ford, the premier’s nephew, represented clients that received millions of dollars from the Skills Development Fund. Both are relatively new to the lobbying scene. #onpoli www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Clients of lobby firms connected to premier, his nephew given tens of millions in training fundsGroups represented by a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager got more than $100 million in grant money, a Trillium analysis has foundwww.thetrillium.caClients of one firm owned by Kory Teneycke, the premier’s campaign manager, have received more than $100 million from the Skills Development Fund. #onpoli www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Clients of lobby firms connected to premier, his nephew given tens of millions in training fundsGroups represented by a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager got more than $100 million in grant money, a Trillium analysis has foundwww.thetrillium.caThe decision likely won’t “open the floodgates” to similar challenges, he wrote. "Most road and traffic decisions are well-grounded in data and safety concerns, as one would expect, and are unlikely to be challenged as arbitrary." #onpoli #topoli www.thetrillium.ca/news/municip...
Court strikes down planned Toronto bike lane removalsTearing out Bloor, Yonge, University lanes violates right to life, security: judgewww.thetrillium.caNo, you don't have a constitutional right to bike lanes now. Governments can make decisions that harm, but when they do so “arbitrarily,” the Charter comes into play, the judge wrote. #onpoli #topoli www.thetrillium.ca/news/municip...
Court strikes down planned Toronto bike lane removalsTearing out Bloor, Yonge, University lanes violates right to life, security: judgewww.thetrillium.caNew: Therme says it'll be about $40 for a day's access to its 20 water slides, 14 saunas and 10 pools. Daytime will be family-oriented, while Saturday nights may have a "rave vibe" or floating movie screenings. www.thetrillium.ca/news/municip...
Therme shows off design of Ontario Place water parkIts new design is half the size of the original 65,000 square metre proposalwww.thetrillium.caJournalists like @johnlorinc.bsky.social and @dgrdon.bsky.social have noted that “commercial activity” will be allowed on 30% of the public area. Therme says that's only so free arts events can set up food trucks etc. All events will be free to enter, Therme said. thetrillium.ca/news/municip...