Ontario Premier Accused of Leveraging Taxpayer-Funded Firm for Election Advantage
Former Postmedia CEO Paul Godfrey claims Premier Doug Ford’s office pressured the taxpayer-funded Keel Digital Solutions to secure a political favor before the 2025 snap election, linking funding approval to a voter-letter in Postmedia papers. The allegation was filed with the Ontario Provincial Police.
In a sworn filing to the Ontario Provincial Police, former Postmedia chief Paul Godfrey alleges that Premier Doug Ford’s office leveraged its authority over Keel Digital Solutions, a company receiving provincial funds, to gain a political advantage ahead of a 2025 snap election. According to Godfrey, Chief of Staff Patrick Sackville offered to approve a three-year funding package for Keel after an audit, provided the Premier secured a voter-letter publication in Postmedia outlets.
The province is engaged in a $25.9 million legal dispute with Keel, accusing it of misleading the government for extra funding, while Keel, now in receivership, has filed a $100 million counterclaim. Ford’s office called the allegations “categorically untrue,” and Postmedia said it had no knowledge of the described events. Insiders note that publishing a premier’s editorial is routine and would not alone sway voters. The matter remains under investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police.
Why it matters
The claim raises concerns that government power may have been used to shape election coverage, questioning political ethics.
In this story
