Ontario Premier Doug Ford insists “of course” he will release documents proving buying and selling a private jet didn’t cost provincial taxpayers, although he has offered no details of when that will happen.
In mid-April, the government confirmed it had bought a second-hand Challenger 650, citing the premier’s travel across the country and into the United States as the reason.
But only two days later, in the face of massive backlash, Ontario sold the $28.9-million plane back to Bombardier.
Despite the sale taking place almost two weeks ago and a promise of transparency, the government has not shared any of the documents associated with the sale and Ford’s office has not answered questions about them.
“Of course, we’ll release them because we sold it for the same amount we paid for it,” Ford said at an unrelated event on Monday. “So that’s all going to be transparent.”
The premier then pivoted to talk about the economy, offering no timeline or details of when the information would be made public.
Ford was holding his first news conference in two weeks after a bruising period for the government.
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Over the past two weeks, as the government passed its clampdown on freedom-of-information laws and Ford was forced to apologize for making personal comments about a political opponent, his team has kept him away from news conferences or scrums.
Several events, including an “exclusive, members only” breakfast at the Albany club, haven’t been advertised at all, while the government unveiled plans for a new memorial at Queen’s Park behind closed doors.
That changed on Monday morning, with a slew of announcements on the same day that politicians returned to Queen’s Park after a week-long break.
The stream of announcements began with Emergency Preparedness and Response Minister Jill Dunlop holding a briefing in the government’s communication centre at 8:30 a.m.
Just over two hours later, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner unveiled plans to let transit cops arrest people for drug use.
At roughly 12:30 p.m. — around the time journalists are normally at Queen’s Park to ask members of the government questions — Ford held his own news conference, alongside Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.
The flurry of announcements comes as the government tries to reset the agenda.
It initially faced heat for a clampdown on transparency by excluding the premier, his cabinet and their staff from all freedom-of-information requests, a move that will likely kill a court order for Ford to hand over cellphone records.
Then, the solicitor general and premier spent a week trying to explain how jails run by the provincial government had lost more than 150 inmates over the past five years.
All this before the government confirmed it had bought a private jet and then rapidly sold it.
Polling released by Liaison Strategies suggested the stories had hurt Ford, with the Progressive Conservatives falling behind the leaderless Liberals in the polls.
Asked about the costs of the jet on Friday — and when documents to prove them would be released — Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy shrugged off the question.
“We are going through a process. As the process continues, we will be transparent. That is ongoing,” he said.
“But you know what, we have moved on. The premier was very categorical that he listened to the people of Ontario.”
The cost of fuel and maintenance, like really? With the rising costs of gas prices…this was really necassary. Did he even think about the fueling and maintenance that would cost taxpayers between $700 000.00 to $1 000 000.00 USD. Why isn’t anyone talking about that? For someone who slammed social services for working in Taj Mahals, he certainly has no problem building himself one. Owning a private jet is less of a purchase and more like adopting a very fast, very hungry child. In 2026, costs have become particularly volatile due to recent global fuel supply shocks. To give you a realistic picture, you have to look at Direct Operating Costs (DOC)—what you pay while the wheels are turning—and Fixed Costs, which you pay even if the plane never leaves the hangar. 1. Fuel Costs (The Variable Hungry Part)Fuel is typically 35% to 50% of your hourly cost. As of mid-2026, jet fuel prices have seen significant spikes (roughly doubling in parts of Europe and hitting over $200/barrel globally). Aircraft TypeFuel Burn (Gal/Hr)Est. Hourly Fuel Cost (at $6.00/gal)Very Light Jet (e.g., Cirrus SF50)60 – 80$360 – $480Light Jet (e.g., Phenom 300E)150 – 180$900 – $1,080Midsize Jet (e.g., Challenger 350)240 – 300$1,440 – $1,800Ultra-Long Range (e.g., Gulfstream G700)400 – 500+$2,400 – $3,000+Note: In high-demand cities or during fuel shortages, retail Jet A prices can exceed $8.00–$10.00/gal.2. Maintenance Costs (The “Stay Safe” Tax)Maintenance isn’t just about fixing things when they break; it’s about mandatory inspections based on hours flown or calendar days. Routine Maintenance: Expect to pay $120 to $800+ per flight hour into a “reserve” fund for engines and parts.Annual Inspections: These can range from $300,000 for a light jet to over $4 million for a heavy jet. The “Big Bills”: * Engine Overhaul: Often costs $300k to $2M+ per engine every few thousand hours. Windshield Replacement: A single crack can cost $40,000 – $70,000. Connectivity: Keeping high-speed Wi-Fi active can run $3,000 – $5,000/month just for the subscription.3. Total Annual Cost BreakdownIf you fly a typical 200 hours per year, here is what your bank account should be prepared for in 2026:Expense CategoryLight Jet (e.g., Citation CJ4)Heavy Jet (e.g., Global 6500)Fuel (200 hrs)~$200,000~$550,000Maintenance & Reserves~$150,000~$800,000Crew (Salary & Training)~$250,000~$450,000+Hangar & Insurance~$100,000~$250,000Total Annual Budget~$700,000 – $1M$3M – $5M+The “Ouch” Factor Beyond these numbers, you also face Depreciation. A new jet can lose 10% to 20% of its value in the first year alone. In 2026, with the push toward Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), older, less efficient jets are depreciating even faster as buyers look for “greener” airframes to avoid carbon taxes.