‘The system works’: Ford backs minister, supports OPP probe of company receiving provincial funds

Doug Ford remains steadfast in defence of his Labour Minister David Piccini.

That’s despite provincial police now launching an investigation into a company connected to the controversial Skills Development Fund, which Piccini oversees.

The Premier tells CHCH News, the OPP investigation is proof the system works, while opposition leaders ramped up calls for Piccini’s resignation.

“He hand picked [Keel Digital Solutions]. Why did he continue to move forward with it,” says Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

“At the time, Speaker, we didn’t have the results of the forensic audit,” Minister Piccini responded.

“The civil servants had already ranked this proposal low,” says Stiles.

“We had no results of any audit, Speaker and once we did a referral was made to the OPP within 24 hours. It shows that the system is working,” Piccini says.

READ MORE: OPP probing company that received Ontario government payments

David Piccini continues to double down on his denial of wrongdoing, amid a persistent push of allegations of corruption from the opposition.

Despite the allegations, and now, an OPP investigation, Piccini retains the support of his boss.

“It just shows that the system works, and when we see something going sideways then they inform the OPP, so the system works 100 per cent,” says Ford on Tuesday when asked whether Minister Piccini should step aside for now.

A few hours later, Ford was asked again about Piccini and his seemingly close ties to Keel Digital Solutions – because, as first reported by news outlet “The Trillium,” Piccini attended the wedding of a Keel lobbyist in France, in early October.

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Back in January 2023, Piccini sat beside a director of Keel at a Toronto Maple Leafs game, just months before he became labour minister, and Keel eventually received millions in tax-payer grants.

“Yeah, again, if anything doesn’t seem right when we do the audit then we move forward and call in the OPP then they determine if it’s gonna move forward or not,” says Ford when asked about the Leafs game.

Monday afternoon, the OPP revealed it is investigating Keel Digital Solutions which has received funding from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, and also from the controversial $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund.

The government says a routine audit in 2023 raised concerns, so a forensic audit was ordered and recently completed.

Piccini has said staff scored Keel’s application for Skills Development Fund money lower, but money was awarded anyways.

An auditor general report found Piccini’s office has been deeply involved in selecting projects that receive money from the fund.
“Yes, as far as I’m concerned that [Skills Development Fund] has gone to a lot of good for people,” says Ford when asked if he will keep Piccini as Labour Minister when the government returns for its next session.

On Monday, Keel Digital Solutions released a statement saying it did nothing wrong, it welcomes the OPP investigation, and that it will cooperate fully, and expect an apology from the Ford government when the police investigation is complete.

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