Premier Doug Ford’s government doled out $126 million in training cash to 64 firms that used lobbyists to push poorly rated applications, which is “not fair, transparent, or accountable,” the auditor general found.

In a critical audit, Shelley Spence said Ford’s Ministry of Labour awarded money to the “low- and medium-ranked applications” from the Progressive Conservatives’ controversial $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund (SDF).

The recipients retained “registered lobbyists to lobby the Ministry and/or Minister on behalf of the applicants before they were selected and funded,” Spence wrote in a 42-page special report, one of four she tabled Wednesday at Queen’s Park.

“As well, 39 high-ranked applications that were selected by the Minister’s Office, and received approximately $58 mi

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