As the Ontario Legislature wrapped up its spring session on Tuesday, Ontario Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser walked over to Premier Doug Ford to offer him a gift: a set of metal wings that pilots typically pin onto their lapels with the words “future pilot” emblazoned on the front.
The gag gift was intended to poke fun at Ford’s purchase of a $28.9 million Challenger 650 private airplane, allowing him to jet set across Canada and the United States for meetings with the prime minister, fellow premiers and officials in the United States.
News of the private jet, which appeared to clash with Ford’s “respect for taxpayers” brand, sparked political uproar and voter backlash, leading to an immediate reversal.
Days later, Ford sold the jet to manufacturer Bombardier for the same purchase price, but not before incurring $190,000 in taxpayer-funded expenses for maintenance and storage.
While Ford, along with the Ontario Progressive Conservative caucus, has tried to move past the scandal, opposition parties are determined to make it stick to the government’s record — Fraser’s gift was the latest example.
While Fraser admitted it was a “provocative” move, he also called it a “serious prank.”
“At a time when people are really hurting, the premier’s buying a private luxury jet,” Fraser said.
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This is the second time Fraser has given the Progressive Conservatives an item to remind the government of headlines related to their record.
In April 2024, after Global News detailed the staffing size and cost of the premier’s office under Ford, Fraser sent the PC front bench a can of gravy in reference to the infamous “gravy train” slogan.
Ford, when asked about the latest stunt, was trite.
“John will be John, what can you do?” Ford said before quickly pivoting to other government priorities.
So immature and unfunny.
The levels of immaturity the Liberals display never ceases to amaze me
GET FORD OUT!!
Hey Karl. No Trudeau was not removed in a no confidence vote. We were never allowed a free vote in parliament the last half decade under JT because the NDP agreed to always vote his way.
Trudeau just simply resigned, and several years too late.
Isn’t this kind cavalier conduct why Trudeau was re.oved by a no confidence vote? Can no confidence votes not remove Premiers? This isn’t an isolated incident either, look at the blue license plate scandal. This guy is spending tax money hand over fist at the beginning of a recession. Ford need to be taken out before he does something big that can’t be reversed.
If ‘ya can’t take the heat, get out of politics, Doug.
Where is the outrage on Carney’s excessive travels and food budget, traveling to secure trade deals that just four years ago he advised Trudeau that there was no business case for those same trade deals.
Ontario getting a government jet is small cost in comparison.
It was not “just” liberals that were pissed he was using taxpayer $$ to buy a $80Mil jet!
Lots of my conservative friends also thought that it was a waste of $$ in a time of serious financial belt tightening!!
Hopefully voted out soon
Kinda thin skinned, eh Dougie.