Premier Doug Ford says embattled Labour Minister David Piccini will co-operate with an ethics investigation, while defending the provincial Skills Development Fund.

Ontario Integrity Commissioner Cathryn Motherwell launched a probe into Piccini after the provincial Liberals and New Democrats alleged he breached ethics rules in handing out skills training funding.

Ford says the province will continue to train workers using money from the $2.5-billion fund.

Media reports have said that some beneficiaries of the fund are unions that endorsed the Progressive Conservatives in elections and people who have donated to the party.

The auditor general also found that more than 60 of the lower-scoring fund applicants were approved after they hired a lobbyist, which had the opposition crying foul over what they called preferential treatment.

Both the Liberals and New Democrats renewed their calls Friday to have Piccini removed from the job.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2025.

The Canadian Press