Key Takeaways:
- An Etobicoke dentist’s company, Dentacloud, received a $2 million grant from the Ontario Skills Development Fund.
- The dentist, John Maggirias, has donated over $20,000 to the governing PC Party and its candidates and has been seen in photos with Premier Doug Ford.
- Maggirias’ dental practice, JM Dental, claims on its website that it treats "the Ford family," but Premier Ford denies having any connection to the grant or the dental practice.
- The Skills Development Fund has been the subject of controversy, with over half of its grants being directed to recipients chosen by political staff in a non-transparent manner.
- The Ontario NDP leader, Marit Stiles, has called for an investigation into the connections between Maggirias and the Ford government.
Introduction to the Controversy
The Ontario government has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding a grant awarded to a company owned by an Etobicoke dentist, John Maggirias. Maggirias’ company, Dentacloud, received a $2 million grant from the Skills Development Fund, a program aimed at addressing labor shortages in various industries. However, what has raised eyebrows is the fact that Maggirias’ dental practice, JM Dental, claims on its website that it treats "the Ford family." This has led to questions about the connections between Maggirias and the Ford government, particularly given that Maggirias has donated over $20,000 to the governing PC Party and its candidates.
The Ford Family Connection
Premier Doug Ford has denied having any connection to the grant or the dental practice, stating that he doesn’t get involved in such decisions and that he has his own dentist in Scarborough. However, photos on JM Dental’s website show Ford’s late brother, Rob, visiting the practice in 2013. Additionally, Maggirias has been seen in photos with Premier Ford at a fundraiser, and a video posted by The Trillium shows the two joking together. While Ford has stated that he will ask his family members if they have ever visited JM Dental, it remains unclear which members of the Ford family, if any, have received treatment at the practice.
The Skills Development Fund Controversy
The Skills Development Fund has been the subject of controversy since September, when it was reported that a multi-million-dollar grant had been awarded to a chain of bars and restaurants against the recommendations of non-partisan staff. An audit by the Auditor-General found that over half of the grants worth $750 million were directed to recipients chosen by political staff in a non-transparent manner. The fund has also been criticized for lacking accountability and transparency, with many questioning how recipients are chosen and what criteria are used to evaluate their eligibility.
Regulations and Ethics
The claim on JM Dental’s website that it treats "the Ford family" has also raised questions about the ethics of advertising and testimonials in the dental profession. According to legal experts, personal testimonials are rare in dental advertising in Ontario, and are governed by strict rules that prohibit advertising that is not factual or that can only be verified by a person’s personal feelings or views. The Royal Ontario College of Dental Surgeons, the regulatory body for dentists in Ontario, has not confirmed or denied whether it has received a complaint about JM Dental’s advertising practices.
Calls for Investigation
The Ontario NDP leader, Marit Stiles, has called for an investigation into the connections between Maggirias and the Ford government, stating that the company’s boasts about treating the Ford family and the premier’s attendance at fundraisers with Maggirias raise serious questions about the grant process. Stiles has also criticized the Skills Development Fund, stating that it is not the premier’s "personal piggy bank" and that the government must be transparent and accountable in its decision-making processes. As the controversy surrounding the grant and the Ford family connection continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what actions will be taken to address the concerns and ensure that the Skills Development Fund is used for its intended purpose.