OPP probing company that received Ontario government payments

TORONTO — The Ontario Provincial Police have launched an investigation into a company connected to the Skills Development Fund after the province found “irregularities” relating to payments it received from a different branch of government.

The government asked the OPP last month to look at the results of an audit on Keel Digital Solutions, which has been receiving funding from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities for student mental health and the police confirmed Monday they have decide to start a full investigation.

A routine audit in 2023 raised concerns, the government said, so a forensic audit was conducted. After that second audit wrapped up recently the government referred the matter to the provincial police.

“That process identified irregularities that led to a comprehensive forensic audit of the organization in question,” the government wrote in a statement.

“Within 24 hours of receiving this report, the referral was made. All payments associated with this provider are currently under review, and further actions will be taken based on that outcome.”

Keel Digital Solutions has been closely scrutinized at the legislature in recent weeks as a recipient of the Ministry of Labour’s controversial $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund.

Labour Minister David Piccini has come under sustained fire from opposition parties calling for his resignation, particularly since media reports say one of Keel’s lobbyists is a close friend of Piccini’s.

An auditor general’s report found the minister’s office has been heavily involved in selecting projects under the Skills Development Fund, doling out money to applicants ranked low by bureaucrats. Piccini has said Keel Digital Solutions is one such applicant that received a lower score.

The company wrote in a statement Monday that it strongly believes it has complied with all laws and contractual obligations.

“We welcome the OPP and will be completely transparent and cooperative,” Jay Fischbach, chief operating officer, wrote.

“We look forward to the government’s apology at the end of this; and we remain focused on facilitating mental health supports for the province’s most vulnerable communities.”

Keel received about $7.5 million in Skills Development Fund grants over the fourth and fifth funding rounds for a first responder mental health program.

One of the largest issues here, said Liberal parliamentary leader John Fraser, is that one ministry was giving the company money while it was being audited due to concerns raised by another ministry.

“I think most reasonable people would say, ‘If you don’t trust somebody you’re doing business with, why would you do more business with them?'” he said.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles said it is time for some accountability.

“Let me be clear: Premier Doug Ford is responsible for this farce,” she wrote in a statement. “He can’t ignore the calls to fire this minister any longer. He needs to fire his minister, now.”

The auditor general found that the Skills Development Fund was not “fair, transparent or accountable.”

More than 60 of the lower-scoring applicants were approved after they hired a lobbyist, the auditor found, which has the opposition crying foul over what they call preferential treatment.

Piccini has defended the fund and the value of the programs his office chose. More than 700,000 people have been trained under the program and more than 100,000 people found work within 60 days, he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2025.

Allison Jones, The Canadian Press