Overview
- Ontario’s OPP Anti-Rackets Branch confirms it is assessing suspicious activity tied to transfer payments to Get A-Head after a Nov. 6 referral from the Treasury Board Secretariat’s forensic team, with no decision yet on a criminal investigation.
- The government says a comprehensive forensic audit received last week recommended a police referral, which was made within 24 hours, and all associated payments are under review.
- Premier Doug Ford’s chief of staff instructed political staff to have no contact with Get A-Head, Keel Mind, Keel Digital Solutions or their agents while the matter is before police.
- Government records show the provider received $32.74 million from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities since 2020, $1.85 million from Health, and $7.5 million in Skills Development Fund grants approved by the Labour Minister’s office.
- Keel says it fully cooperated with auditors, disputes aspects of the process, reports it was told no red flags had been identified, and says it was not informed of the OPP referral as opposition parties intensify pressure following the Auditor-General’s finding that the fund’s grant distribution was not fair, transparent or accountable.