Against the backdrop of labour tumult and an auditor general’s probe into provincial training programs, Premier Doug Ford is defending his $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund.

“That’s the best investment we’ve ever done in the province,” Ford said this week the International Plowing Match in Grassie, near Grimsby.

“We’ve trained up over 700,000 people with multiple skills. We’ve given them the tools — literally given them the tools — to have a career and have a trade that they’ll have for the rest of their lives,” he said.

Ford’s comments Tuesday came as Auditor General Shelley Spence is examining the Progressive Conservatives’ signature employee training scheme.

“This audit plans to examine the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s processes and syste

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