Ford says no one in Canada is scrutinized like he is after backtracking on $28.9M private jet purchase
Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters Monday that “no one in the country” is more scrutinized than he is, as he explained his government’s rationale for buying a $28.9-million private jet before quickly backtracking on the purchase Sunday.
Speaking at an unrelated announcement in Ottawa, Ford said he has heard “loud and clear from the people” that it wasn’t the right time for the province to buy a plane.
“I’m the premier that listens to the people, and if they don’t like something, I’m not too shy to change my mind,” he said.
Ford then went on to say that he is “disturbed” by the “inconsistency with the media,” alleging there hasn’t been similar scrutiny of the federal government’s $753-million contract for six new Global 6500 jets, or the $107 million his government says Quebec paid for one pre-owned and two new Challenger 650 jets.
“There is no one in this country that is scrutinized more than I am. I am willing to take that,” Ford said, adding that he supports Quebec and the federal government making those purchases.
“But when I do it, I guess there’s a double standard.”
WATCH | Ford decries ‘double standard’:
Ford calls out media for ‘double standard’ amid scrapped jet purchase
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he’s been heavily scrutinized for Ontario’s purchase of a private jet while the federal government and Quebec’s provincial government haven’t faced similar questions.
A spokesperson for the Quebec government told CBC News that the province does not own an aircraft for “the exclusive use” of its premier — though Ford also said Monday Ontario’s jet wasn’t solely intended for his use.
“To my knowledge, these aircraft are used for medical evacuations,” Maxime Roy told CBC News in an email, while referring other questions to the Quebec’s Ministry of Transport, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ford said he has directed provincial staff to be in contact with Bombardier to sell Ontario’s jet “immediately” at the same cost they originally paid — though he later also said that the province would “hopefully” get the same price.
“We haven’t touched the plane, so it should be worth the same,” he said.
Analyst calls province’s move an ‘own-goal’
The decision to sell the used Bombardier Challenger 650 came just days after the jet’s purchase was revealed, then met with backlash from opposition parties, advocacy groups and the public alike.
Jaime Watt, executive chairman of the crisis management firm Navigator, told CBC Radio’s Metro Morning on Monday that the controversy amounts to “a bit of an own-goal” for the provincial government, though he personally would support Ford and other Ontario premiers having the plane.
Part of the problem, he said, was the province didn’t provide the public with information, like how many flights Ford has taken as premier, and how much public money has been spent on renting private aircraft.
“The way it came out … he sort of got behind the eight-ball on it, and as a result, he probably had to just make the decision that he did,” Watt said.
“I think that what people in his office and the premier himself probably calculated was … they’re watching the opinion polls, they’re watching how the Liberals are doing even without a leader, and they’re not wanting to do anything that’s going to hurt them.”
Ford made a similar assessment about explaining the rationale for the purchase Monday.
“I should have been out there and made the case, and given the why,” he said.
Zeroing in on cost
A government source told CBC News on Friday that the province has been working for several months to buy the jet. They had expected it to be in operation by the end of July.
The plane was purchased directly from Bombardier and was previously owned by someone in South America, the source said.
It was intended to be used by “multiple ministries,” Ford said, and was necessary both because of Ontario’s sheer size and for trade trips.
“People don’t realize how large Ontario is, unless you’ve flown it,” he said, adding that he’s flown on charter flights “for six years.”
WATCH | Reaction poured in after Friday’s announcement:
Ont. government buys private jet for Doug Ford to use
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office says the province bought the jet because of his ‘extensive travel’ within the province and to the United States to ‘make the case’ against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The purchase price of the pre-owned private jet was $28.9 million.
The province said Friday that the jet, which was made in Canada in 2016, would have allowed for “more certain, flexible, secure and confidential travel” and was not going to be used for personal travel.
Opposition NDP Leader Marit Stiles questioned the government about its “greedy scheme” during question period at Queen’s Park Monday, noting there was no mention of the jet in last month’s budget.
“At a time when we have teachers who are receiving layoff notices, hospitals cutting nurses, families struggling with gas, with groceries … here you are, obsessed with buying your premier a luxury jet,” Stiles said.
“If there was ever a government more out of touch, I don’t know when. The people of this province are outraged, and rightfully so.”
Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser said in a statement Sunday that the purchase amounted to Ford wanting to live like a billionaire on the taxpayer dime.
“Doug Ford didn’t see the light. He felt the heat,” said Fraser. “Now, only after intense backlash, he’s scrambling to sell his gravy plane.”
He said the sudden decision to sell could mean the jet could be sold at a loss “and sit on the books as a liability for taxpayers for months.”
“How much is this going to cost Ontarians? We may never know,” Fraser said.
Watt agreed that the public will zero in on what the return for the province will be once the jet is sold.
“Of course, now, everyone’s going to be asking how much does he sell the plane for, and what’s the difference between that and what he paid for the plane?” he said.
