"Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending the funding process that saw one government ministry give money to a company even after another ministry identified "irregularities" that are now being investigated by the police. The government asked the Ontario Provincial Police last month to look at the results of an audit on Keel Digital Solutions relating to funding they have been receiving for years from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities for student mental health services."
"The company has been the subject of testy debate at the legislature over the past several weeks, as a recipient of the province's $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund from the Ministry of Labour. Labour Minister David Piccini's office gave the company about $7.5 million over two rounds of funding, even though bureaucrats gave the application a low ranking. Opposition critics have cried foul that Piccini is close friends with Keel's lobbyist, which was reported by various media outlets."
"Ford continues to stand by Piccini, despite constant calls from the opposition to fire him. "As I'm concerned, that SDF has gone to a lot of good people," Ford said, vowing that Piccini will remain labour minister. "We're going to keep driving the economy and protecting communities and their jobs." WATCH | Why this file is continuing to dog the Ford government: The latest scandal at Queen's Park revolves around the Skills Development Fund a little known pocket of government grants to help train workers."
Police have launched an investigation after the Ontario government referred an audit of Keel Digital Solutions. A routine audit linked to Keel's funding from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities raised concerns in 2023 and prompted a comprehensive forensic audit. Keel also received about $7.5 million from the Ministry of Labour's $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund despite a low bureaucratic ranking. Opposition critics allege a conflict because Labour Minister David Piccini is close friends with Keel's lobbyist and should have recused himself. Premier Doug Ford is publicly defending the decision and vows to keep Piccini as labour minister while emphasizing job protection and economic priorities.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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