Company that received Skills Development Fund money launches countersues Ontario | CBC News

"A mental health company being sued by the Ontario government over alleged fraudulent misrepresentation has filed a statement of defence and a counterclaim against the province, alleging it has damaged the company's reputation. Get A-Head Inc. and its parent company Keel Digital Solutions deny the government's allegations and are in turn seeking damages of $98 million, including for payments the government withheld and for what they call loss of corporate value."

"Ontario's lawsuit filed earlier this year alleges Get A-Head inflated the number of counselling sessions it reported delivering through a student mental health program, resulting in overpayments of millions of dollars, and provided false quarterly reports. The Ontario Provincial Police are also investigating after the government referred the results of an audit on Keel's funding from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to police. The company says in its defence filed in court this week that the audit process was secretive and "deeply flawed,""

"Keel Digital Solutions was closely scrutinized during the most recent sitting of the legislature as one of the recipients of the Ministry of Labour's $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund, a program the auditor general has found was not fair or transparent and doled out money to applicants ranked low by bureaucrats. Labour Minister David Piccini came under sustained fire from opposition parties calling for his resignation, particularly since media reports said one of Keel's lobbyists is a close friend of Piccini's."

Get A-Head Inc. and parent Keel Digital Solutions deny allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation and have filed a statement of defence and a $98 million counterclaim for withheld payments and loss of corporate value. Ontario alleges the company inflated counselling-session numbers in a student mental health program, resulting in millions in overpayments and false quarterly reports. The Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after the government referred audit results on Keel's funding from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. Keel describes the audit process as secretive and "deeply flawed" and contends the police referral and public statements harmed its reputation. The company also faced scrutiny over a $7.5 million Skills Development Fund award amid questions about program fairness and political connections.

Read at www.cbc.ca