Jessica Smith Cross
@jessiecatherine.bsky.social
Editor of The Trillium. "Real mom vibe."
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
A few months ago @thelocal.to got a promising pitch from a writer with bylines in whole bunch of reputable publications—The Cut, The Guardian, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. Then I started investigating. Here's a story about fabulists in journalism's AI slop era. thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 19, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A few months ago @thelocal.to got a promising pitch from a writer with bylines in whole bunch of reputable publications—The Cut, The Guardian, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. Then I started investigating. Here's a story about fabulists in journalism's AI slop era. thelocal.to/investigatin...
In the course of our investigation into the Skills Development Fund, we've filed a lot of FOI requests. We recently got some high cost estimates for records and decided to ask the public for help.
Read all about our crowdfunding campaign here.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
Read all about our crowdfunding campaign here.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN: Help us investigate the Skills Development Fund
Your contribution can make hidden government documents public
www.thetrillium.ca
November 17, 2025 at 8:04 PM
In the course of our investigation into the Skills Development Fund, we've filed a lot of FOI requests. We recently got some high cost estimates for records and decided to ask the public for help.
Read all about our crowdfunding campaign here.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
Read all about our crowdfunding campaign here.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
NEW: ‘Mr. X’ claims Minister David Piccini tipped him off about Greenbelt removals
John Mutton made the claim in an interview with the integrity commissioner and then on a podcast. The minister denied it through a spokesperson.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
John Mutton made the claim in an interview with the integrity commissioner and then on a podcast. The minister denied it through a spokesperson.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
‘Mr. X’ claims Minister David Piccini tipped him off about Greenbelt removals
John Mutton made the claim in an interview with the integrity commissioner and then on a podcast. The minister denied it through a spokesperson
www.thetrillium.ca
October 17, 2025 at 6:56 PM
NEW: ‘Mr. X’ claims Minister David Piccini tipped him off about Greenbelt removals
John Mutton made the claim in an interview with the integrity commissioner and then on a podcast. The minister denied it through a spokesperson.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
John Mutton made the claim in an interview with the integrity commissioner and then on a podcast. The minister denied it through a spokesperson.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
NEW: 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...
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 Drake
The not-for-profit got more than $3 million in taxpayer funds before it shut down
www.thetrillium.ca
October 14, 2025 at 1:39 PM
NEW: 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...
It matches an example from the AG report of a low-ranked group picked by the MO.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
NEW: Clients of lobby firms connected to the premier and his nephew were given tens of millions from the Skills Development Fund.
Clients of Rubicon — a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager — got more than $100M, records show.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Clients of Rubicon — a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager — got more than $100M, records show.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Clients of lobby firms connected to premier, his nephew given tens of millions in training funds
Groups represented by a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager got more than $100 million in grant money, a Trillium analysis has found
www.thetrillium.ca
October 7, 2025 at 12:55 AM
NEW: Clients of lobby firms connected to the premier and his nephew were given tens of millions from the Skills Development Fund.
Clients of Rubicon — a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager — got more than $100M, records show.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Clients of Rubicon — a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager — got more than $100M, records show.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
NEW: The feds are going to be in touch with the province on the AG's Skills Development Fund report, and they don't sound happy.
They want to ensure their funds were spent “effectively and transparently," and are seeking "due diligence" and "mitigation measures."🔒
www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news...
They want to ensure their funds were spent “effectively and transparently," and are seeking "due diligence" and "mitigation measures."🔒
www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news...
Become a Trillium insider
www.thetrillium.ca
October 6, 2025 at 6:31 PM
NEW: The feds are going to be in touch with the province on the AG's Skills Development Fund report, and they don't sound happy.
They want to ensure their funds were spent “effectively and transparently," and are seeking "due diligence" and "mitigation measures."🔒
www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news...
They want to ensure their funds were spent “effectively and transparently," and are seeking "due diligence" and "mitigation measures."🔒
www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news...
BREAKING: Ford government skills training funding ‘not fair, transparent or accountable’: auditor general
Ford government labour ministers overruled civil servants to fund skills training by groups with lobbyists, according to a scathing new report
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Ford government labour ministers overruled civil servants to fund skills training by groups with lobbyists, according to a scathing new report
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
BREAKING: Ford government skills training funding ‘not fair, transparent or accountable’: auditor general
Ford government labour ministers overruled civil servants to fund skills training by groups with lobbyists, according to a scathing new report
www.thetrillium.ca
October 1, 2025 at 3:26 PM
BREAKING: Ford government skills training funding ‘not fair, transparent or accountable’: auditor general
Ford government labour ministers overruled civil servants to fund skills training by groups with lobbyists, according to a scathing new report
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
Ford government labour ministers overruled civil servants to fund skills training by groups with lobbyists, according to a scathing new report
www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
New Skills Development Fund story from @charliepinkerton.bsky.social
A company that specializes in helping dentists sell their practices was given $2 million to train workers when its CEO worked closely with the wife of the then-cabinet minister responsible for the funding program.
A company that specializes in helping dentists sell their practices was given $2 million to train workers when its CEO worked closely with the wife of the then-cabinet minister responsible for the funding program.
Millions from Ontario training funding went to dentists’ brokerage with ties to then-labour minister’s wife
Millions from Ontario training funding went to dentists’ brokerage with ties to then-labour minister’s wife
Dentacloud received more than $2 million through the Ford government’s Skills Development Fund
dlvr.it
September 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
New Skills Development Fund story from @charliepinkerton.bsky.social
A company that specializes in helping dentists sell their practices was given $2 million to train workers when its CEO worked closely with the wife of the then-cabinet minister responsible for the funding program.
A company that specializes in helping dentists sell their practices was given $2 million to train workers when its CEO worked closely with the wife of the then-cabinet minister responsible for the funding program.
Update to this story on a group that trains people to work in clubs run by Zlatko Starkovski, a longtime Ford Nation figure: Ontario's public accounts show the group got an additional $3.3M in grants from the Skills Development Fund last year, for a total of more than $9.8M.
Group training workers for ‘Rob Ford’s favourite nightclub owner’ got $6.5M in provincial skills development funding
Group training workers for ‘Rob Ford’s favourite nightclub owner’ got $6.5M in provincial skills development funding
Training takes place at Zlatko Starkovski’s event venue at Exhibition Place
dlvr.it
September 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Update to this story on a group that trains people to work in clubs run by Zlatko Starkovski, a longtime Ford Nation figure: Ontario's public accounts show the group got an additional $3.3M in grants from the Skills Development Fund last year, for a total of more than $9.8M.
More on the Skills Development Fund from me.
Critics blast millions in Skills Development Fund grants given to PC-friendly companies
Critics blast millions in Skills Development Fund grants given to PC-friendly companies
A law firm, a private animal hospital and a large commercial bakery are among the recipients with ties to the PCs
dlvr.it
September 19, 2025 at 5:31 PM
More on the Skills Development Fund from me.
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
Group training workers for ‘Rob Ford’s favourite nightclub owner’ got $6.5M in provincial skills development funding
Group training workers for ‘Rob Ford’s favourite nightclub owner’ got $6.5M in provincial skills development funding
Training takes place at Zlatko Starkovski’s event venue at Exhibition Place
dlvr.it
September 18, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Group training workers for ‘Rob Ford’s favourite nightclub owner’ got $6.5M in provincial skills development funding
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
Main voting closed at Ontario Liberal convention, Bonnie Crombie awaits her fate
Main voting closed at Ontario Liberal convention, Bonnie Crombie awaits her fate
Meanwhile, party members got pro-Bonnie robocalls and texts urging them to 'Please vote no to a leadership contest'
dlvr.it
September 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Main voting closed at Ontario Liberal convention, Bonnie Crombie awaits her fate
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
VIDEO: Bonnie voyage? Liberals decide this weekend if Crombie stays or goes
VIDEO: Bonnie voyage? Liberals decide this weekend if Crombie stays or goes
Tonight on Village Media's new 'Closer Look' podcast: We preview a big weekend for the Ontario Liberals — and revisit our recent interview with the party leader who insists she's 'not going anywhere'
dlvr.it
September 11, 2025 at 11:04 PM
VIDEO: Bonnie voyage? Liberals decide this weekend if Crombie stays or goes
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
Father of boy with autism charged with threatening to kill Doug Ford
Father of boy with autism charged with threatening to kill Doug Ford
‘I just want our kids supported’: Ryan Nelson, charged earlier this year in connection with violent online content, spoke to The Trillium about his experience with autism services in Ontario
dlvr.it
September 11, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Father of boy with autism charged with threatening to kill Doug Ford
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
Minister’s office insisted restaurateurs be granted millions despite ‘late’ and ‘low’ scoring application: emails
Minister’s office insisted restaurateurs be granted millions despite ‘late’ and ‘low’ scoring application: emails
One of the company's owners had donated thousands to the PC party and was friendly with a key Ford aide, according to three well-placed sources
dlvr.it
September 10, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Minister’s office insisted restaurateurs be granted millions despite ‘late’ and ‘low’ scoring application: emails
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
Ontarians split on Liberal leadership race: poll
Ontarians split on Liberal leadership race: poll
A Pallas Data poll shows no clear consensus among Liberal supporters or Ontarians at large about whether to replace Bonnie Crombie, and no clear successor waiting in the wings
dlvr.it
September 9, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Ontarians split on Liberal leadership race: poll
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
Ford friend's company seeking $500M from Metrolinx in expropriation dispute
Ford friend's company seeking $500M from Metrolinx in expropriation dispute
A development group wants a tribunal to force the transit agency to compensate it for air rights in downtown Toronto that it agreed to buy, but hadn’t paid for
dlvr.it
August 28, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Ford friend's company seeking $500M from Metrolinx in expropriation dispute
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
Doug Ford's PCs spent six figures on 'Canada Is Not For Sale' hats in election campaign
Doug Ford's PCs spent six figures on 'Canada Is Not For Sale' hats in election campaign
The hats were central to Ford's Conservatives' branding during their successful 2025 campaign
dlvr.it
August 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Doug Ford's PCs spent six figures on 'Canada Is Not For Sale' hats in election campaign
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
Meet the bagman: the Ontario PC fundraising chief and his developer ties
Meet the bagman: the Ontario PC fundraising chief and his developer ties
The top fundraiser for Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives works for developers, while also raising money from them for the party
dlvr.it
July 23, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Meet the bagman: the Ontario PC fundraising chief and his developer ties
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
Ontario reveals five-storey Ontario Place parking garage; Science Centre still TBD
Ontario reveals five-storey Ontario Place parking garage; Science Centre still TBD
'You'll barely even see' the garage: Ford
dlvr.it
June 24, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Ontario reveals five-storey Ontario Place parking garage; Science Centre still TBD
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
Ford apologizes for ‘hat-in-hand’ comment about First Nations
Ford apologizes for ‘hat-in-hand’ comment about First Nations
Anishinabek Nation chiefs accept his apology but Bill 5 issues remain, grand chief says
dlvr.it
June 19, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Ford apologizes for ‘hat-in-hand’ comment about First Nations
Reposted by Jessica Smith Cross
Leak allegation sparks row between 'Mr. X' and local mayor
Leak allegation sparks row between 'Mr. X' and local mayor
John Mutton, a former mayor of Clarington, is demanding an apology from the current mayor over a public allegation about a leaked document concerning a piece of land granted a provincial MZO for an affordable housing development
dlvr.it
June 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Leak allegation sparks row between 'Mr. X' and local mayor
NEW: How Metrolinx’s plan to deliver European-style train service went off the rails
@jackhauen.bsky.social got excruciating detail on MX's split with Deutsche Bahn on the GO expansion, and the scope reduction for all-day, two-way GO
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
@jackhauen.bsky.social got excruciating detail on MX's split with Deutsche Bahn on the GO expansion, and the scope reduction for all-day, two-way GO
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
How Metrolinx’s plan to deliver European-style train service went off the rails
GO Expansion will still transform Greater Golden Horseshoe transit — but likely won’t be as ambitious as what was planned just three years ago
www.thetrillium.ca
June 10, 2025 at 6:59 PM
NEW: How Metrolinx’s plan to deliver European-style train service went off the rails
@jackhauen.bsky.social got excruciating detail on MX's split with Deutsche Bahn on the GO expansion, and the scope reduction for all-day, two-way GO
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
@jackhauen.bsky.social got excruciating detail on MX's split with Deutsche Bahn on the GO expansion, and the scope reduction for all-day, two-way GO
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
New: The Ford government has announced a plan to use its proposed "special economic zones" bill to create "Indigenous-led economic zones," after consulting with Indigenous partners over the summer.
It comes after increasing pressure from Indigenous communities.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/indigen...
It comes after increasing pressure from Indigenous communities.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/indigen...
Ford government announces plans for 'Indigenous-led economic zones' under Bill 5
Facing mounting opposition from First Nations, the premier's office announced a pivot
www.thetrillium.ca
May 28, 2025 at 3:23 PM
New: The Ford government has announced a plan to use its proposed "special economic zones" bill to create "Indigenous-led economic zones," after consulting with Indigenous partners over the summer.
It comes after increasing pressure from Indigenous communities.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/indigen...
It comes after increasing pressure from Indigenous communities.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/indigen...