The legal fight over Ontario’s Skills Development Fund (SDF) has shifted from a government audit to a full-blown courtroom war. After being sued for $25 million by the province, Get A-Head Inc. and its parent company, Keel Digital Solutions, have fired back with a massive $98 million counterclaim.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Allegations: Malice vs. Misrepresentation
- The Government’s Stance: The province claims the company essentially “padded the bill,” inflating mental health session numbers to snag over $25 million in funds they didn’t earn.
- The Company’s Stance: Keel alleges the government conducted a “sham audit” and referred the matter to the police with malice. They argue the province intentionally trashed their reputation to avoid paying out legitimate contracts.
Why This is Getting Messy
This isn’t just a dry contract dispute; it’s a political lightning rod.
- Political Ties: The case is shadowed by reports of personal connections between Labour Minister David Piccini and the company’s lobbyist.
- The Audit Trap: Keel claims they were never given a fair chance to explain their data before the government went public with a police referral, a move they say was designed to cause maximum “reputational harm.”
- System Integrity: The company maintains that their software platform makes it technically impossible to “fake” the sessions the government claims were fraudulent.
Quick Comparison: The Legal Duel
| Feature | The Province’s Claim | The Company’s Counterclaim |
| Primary Goal | Claw back $25M in “overpayments.” | Secure $98M for “reputational destruction.” |
| Narrative | Corporate fraud and padded metrics. | Political scapegoating and bad-faith auditing. |
| Next Big Step | OPP (Police) investigation results. | Discovery phase in civil court. |
The Bottom Line: While the government wants its money back, Keel is arguing that the province’s “secretive and flawed” tactics have effectively devalued their entire company.
