Muhammad Amanullah
Date: October 10, 2026 The True Post (Web News) —The Ontario government led by Premier Doug Ford has removed Paul Godfrey from the Order of Ontario Advisory Council. The government attributed the decision to public statements by Godfrey that it described as inaccurate and said had created a conflict-of-interest situation.
Godfrey, meanwhile, has alleged that the premier’s office used a government contract awarded to his son’s company as leverage to secure a role in publishing Ford’s 2025 opinion article.
Removal From the Advisory Council
The Order of Ontario Advisory Council reviews nominations for the province’s highest honour and assesses candidates. Its responsibility is to evaluate nominees’ qualifications and contributions and identify those considered suitable to receive the distinction.
Explaining its decision to remove Godfrey, the Ford government said his public statements were inaccurate and had resulted in a conflict-of-interest concern. However, Godfrey and the premier’s office have presented clearly different accounts of the matter.
Allegations of Pressure From the Premier’s Office
Paul Godfrey alleged that Doug Ford’s office used a government contract awarded to his son’s company as a means of applying pressure. According to Godfrey, the aim was to secure publication of an opinion article by the premier in Postmedia newspapers.
The article was published on January 27, 2025. Godfrey said he understood that he was being pressured by people with political power and was uncomfortable with the situation.
Nevertheless, he said he wanted his son’s company to continue its work helping people. He also cited his longstanding association with the Progressive Conservative Party as a reason he wanted the government to succeed.
In his statement, Godfrey said he had spent enough time in politics and public affairs to recognise when someone with political authority was attempting to pressure him. He also described the premier’s office’s position as laughable.
Godfrey further maintained that Postmedia had been unaware of the alleged pressure being exerted on him by the premier’s office.
Premier’s Office Responds
In response to the allegations, Doug Ford’s office said the premier regularly writes opinion articles for several prominent publications.
These include the National Post, the Financial Post, the Sun newspaper chain, the Toronto Star, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.
According to the premier’s office, writing articles for different newspapers is a routine activity for Ford.
Godfrey rejected this explanation, maintaining that his experience of the situation involved political pressure.
Son’s Company Also Under Investigation
The controversy comes as Keel Digital Solutions, a company headed by Paul Godfrey’s son, Rob Godfrey, is facing a government investigation and legal proceedings.
The company provides mental health-related services and has also been associated with Ontario’s Skills Development Fund.
In December 2025, the Ontario Provincial Police began examining Keel Digital Solutions as part of an investigation related to the fund.
The Ontario government subsequently filed a lawsuit against the company in January 2026, seeking the recovery of more than $25 million in public funds.
Dispute Over More Than $25 Million
The Ontario government alleged that Keel Digital’s subsidiary, Get A-Head Inc., overstated the number of counselling sessions delivered to students, resulting in the company receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional payments.
The government filed its lawsuit seeking the recovery of the disputed funds.
The company has strongly denied the allegations. It has also filed a countersuit against the government, arguing that the allegations have damaged its reputation.
Paul Godfrey’s removal from the advisory council, his allegations of political pressure involving the premier’s office, and the legal proceedings against his son’s company have thus become interconnected controversies.
However, the allegations against the company remain part of an ongoing legal dispute, and the company has denied them.
