Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office says the government is reviewing every payment made to Get A-Head, a company that provides AI-based mental-health support for students and police officers, and may take more action if needed. The Canadian Press
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s chief of staff warned government employees this week to avoid all contact with a company that received close to $40 million in provincial funding. The message came after the province handed results from a forensic audit of the business to the Ontario Provincial Police.
A Company Under Intense Scrutiny
The company, known as Get A-Head and now rebranded as Keel Mind, offers online mental-health support. It has received more than $32 million from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities since 2020, plus $7.5 million from the Skills Development Fund approved by Labour Minister David Piccini’s office. Records also show it received $1.85 million from the Ministry of Health.
The Skills Development Fund has faced strong criticism. In a report last month, the Auditor-General said the distribution of $1.3 billion in grants was “not fair, transparent or accountable.” Opposition members have since called for Minister Piccini’s removal.
The Warning From the Premier’s Office
Patrick Sackville, Ford’s chief of staff, sent a firm directive by e-mail to all chiefs of staff and employees connected to the Premier’s Office. The message went out the same day the government confirmed the OPP referral.
Sackville wrote that the province had just received the results of a detailed forensic audit of Get A-Head, launched after concerns arose during a routine 2023 review. The audit advised that the case should go to the OPP, and the government referred it immediately.
“In the meantime, I want to convey my clear expectation that you and your staff members are not to have any contact whatsoever with Get A-Head, Keel Mind, Keel Digital Solutions or any of their associated agents,” Sackville said. He told staff to end any conversation if someone tried to discuss the companies.
The Premier’s Office said it will not comment further since the OPP now handles the matter.
Questions About Past Connections
The company’s ties to Minister Piccini have fueled political tension. A lobbyist for Get A-Head and Keel, Michael Rudderham, invited Piccini to his wedding in Paris this fall and has donated heavily to the Ontario PC Party. Rudderham said he worked for the company but was “not involved with the MCU stuff” and felt “shocked” by recent developments.
Piccini also sat at a Toronto Maple Leafs game in 2023 with a Keel board member before his appointment as Labour Minister. The board member said he never discussed the company with Piccini or any government official. Piccini has said he paid his own way for both events.
Another issue raised questions earlier this year, when Piccini admitted to a radio host that his office approved Skills Development Fund money for the company even though officials ranked the proposal “lower-scoring.”
Company Pushes Back
Keel Digital Solutions said it fully co-operated with the forensic audit but had “serious concerns about the process.” Chief digital officer Ahad Bandealy said auditors misunderstood tax rules and corporate structures and repeatedly told the company no irregularities had been found.
The Premier’s Office declined to explain why the province approved more funding while the audit was still underway.
A Growing Political Storm
Ford continues to face heavy pressure as the Legislature returns, with questions about the Skills Development Fund dominating discussions. With the OPP now reviewing the case, more developments are likely in the coming weeks.
