The Ford government is spending almost $30 million on a second-hand private jet, which will be used by the premier to travel across the province and beyond.
The premier’s office confirmed Friday it was buying a pre-owned Bombardier Challenger 650 to aid “certain, flexible, secure and confidential travel” to destinations across the country and the United States.
“As part of the job of being Premier of Ontario, there is extensive travel within Ontario, a province twice the landmass of Texas,” the premier’s office statement read.
The $28.9 million, 12-seater aircraft has a range of 7,400 kilometres, meaning the premier can fly to faraway destinations in the United States, Europe and much of Canada.
Critics were quick to label the new aircraft as Ford’s “gravy plane,” a reference to his complaints about government waste during his time as a councillor at Toronto City Hall.
“At a time when people can’t afford to buy groceries or gas, Doug Ford is buying himself a private jet. It doesn’t get much more out of touch than that,” said interim Liberal Leader John Fraser.
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“I guess the gravy train just wasn’t enough, now he’s got to get a gravy plane.”
The Ontario NDP also criticized the move.
“Ford needs to answer to the people of Ontario: Why is he using their hard-earned money to buy himself a plane?
“Maybe it’s time to start flying economy like the rest of us.”
The premier’s office insisted it “isn’t a private jet, it’s a plane for government business only,” but did not reply to a question asking if anyone other than Ford would get to use the plane.
The purchase also appears to fly in the face of Ford’s own stance on the use of taxpayer-funded travel resources.
In 2019, as Ford faced backlash over his plans to build a custom OPP van — complete with a television and a swivel chair — for official travel, the premier pushed back on his use of a government plane.
“I’m the only premier in history that refuses to use the premier’s plane, the King Air, that costs the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Ford said in February 2019. “I prefer to drive around and talk to the people about things that matter.”
But seven years later — after chartering planes for travel to the United States as the premier placed himself at the centre of the country’s trade war — the Progressive Conservatives suggest the plane is now necessary.
The premier’s office said the plane was necessary “across Canada” for meetings with other premiers and the prime minister, as well as travel to the United States “to help make the case against President (Donald) Trump’s tariffs.”
The premier’s office also defended the $28.5 million price tag.
“This is significantly less than the $107 million Quebec paid for its fleet of one pre-owned and two brand-new Challenger 650s or the $753 million the Government of Canada paid for its six new Global 6500 jets.”
Wait, so we have $29M for a jet but people are still struggling to find info on affordable medication alternatives? I was trying to look up some data on overseas pharmaceutical guides like guiadebetnacionalbrasil.com to compare costs, but the site isn’t even loading for me. Does anyone know if the provincial health plan is going to cover more generic options soon, or is all that money literally just flying away?
Never voted conservative never will
Im a little confused didnt the PM say that affordability in Canada is the best its been in a decade? If thats the case then I dont see why its a ‘bad time’ to but a new plane…
HOT 🔥 FLASH !!!
“GRAVY ✈️ PLANE”
NOW, 4 💲A L E,
🍁 hard working,
” TAX 🤑 PAYER💲”
Our Premier is obviously thinking of
OUR
only 8.4 MILLION
✈️ 🔊 👂
🦻 🙉
” Can you HEAR US,
💲 ir
🤔 💭
Rsvp 💜 asap !!! ?
P.S our Bombardier
Was, the Quietist ✈️ ,
& “THE BEST”
on our “PLANET 🌐 EARTH”
1/4 of which are
🥶 ⛺️ 🌧 🌦 🌂 ⛈️ ☔️ 🌩 ⛺️
NOW “HOMELE$$”
only 1,8 BILLIONS
of
Human 💜 beings,
eh man
🤔 💭
🌮
ViVa
Mexico 🇲🇽
Who, sold Bombardier
To. France,
Sir
WHY
🤔 💭
🐝
Godspeed ☮️ 🕊
🏳️
💰 👮♂️ 💸
Mr. SalesMAN, B. 🌲 C. young, Myles 🌼 Gray …
33 years, young
WHY 🍁 Canadaaaaaaah
R.I. ✌️
Go
@Dave ‘It makes sense for the Premier of Ontario to have a private aircraft’
No it doesn’t… To fly where, around Toronto? Are you slow?
Prime minister has 2 planes. Never spends any time in the country. So whats the difference? Liberal government has taxed us to death and your fine with that. Give your head a shake.
The price of the plane , the operating,maintenanace ,and crew costs will probably double the final bill. This is a unacceptable expense at a time when the constinuents are facing consumer price increases at record highs. Where did we get to vote on this absurdity .Governments on all levels are using us all as there cash cow with absolutly no oversite or accountability for there actions. Next will be the on board catering and fine wine tasting at thousands a trip.I never realised that as Canadians we approved of giving free extravagant dinners and alchol to our members of parliment .As long as we do not stand up and fight for our rights we shall be diminished to poverty.
Wow, so we’re paying a buck 85 for gas, and Fat Bastard now has a private jet?
Our tax paying dollars hard at work. Hey Doug it might do your fat ass some good to go for a walk.
I heard they needed bigger engines t4o get Fatty off the ground. Waste of money, but that’s the Conservative mantra.
It makes sense for the Premier of Ontario to have a private aircraft
It wouldn’t even be questioned if it was the CEO of a billion dollar company but the person running a province with a billion dollar plus economy shouldn’t have one ?
Very conservative values. All about themselves.
Sounds more and more like a liberal every day. His buddy Carney probably gave him the idea. Progressive Liberal at work!
Just another piece of garbage politician like carney con
Doug Ford should be removed from his job as premier of Ontario for this garbage. I am calling on cp24 and every other media outlet in this city to do there job and report on our corrupt premier and have him removed from office. 1. Bike lanes 2. Green belt scandal 3. Spa at Ontario place 4. The Ontario line
Waste of Tax payers money, a $28.9M jet purchase for what exactly? This was money better spend on public health care system. But that is nothing Ford knows about he’s too busy filling the pockets of his friends, and collecting money on the back end. Shame
Bought with tax payer money. The jet is property of the tax payers. Where to I sign up for my turn to use this second hand craft?
I would like to see that money go to some more MRI machines so we can cut down the year wait time. I see another hand in the cookie jar Dougie
Another Trump in our backyard. Very scary!
His greed and graft just gets worse and worse. The provincial deficit is spiralling to unbelievable amounts and yet he keeps spending and approving ludicrous projects. AND removing access to information requirements he has become his own mafia leader. How can this be called representative government?
What a piece of s**t
He is the literal mayor quimby of Canada. Prove me wrong
How about no, scott
This is the same individual who wants to remove speed cameras. Preventing traffic accidents involving children, seniors, and people with disabilities is more important than a personal plane for the Premier, which costs millions to operate. – pilot, fuel, and maintenance aren’t free.
This is the same individual who wants to remove speed cameras. Safety for children, seniors, the disabled and preventing trafficking deaths is more important than a personal plane for the Premier.
“meaning the premier can fly to faraway destinations in the United States”. I thought this fat turd was against all things USA?