Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his province will sell the $29 million private jet it recently purchased for his use, just two days after announcing the purchase, following public backlash.
Ford’s comments come after his office confirmed on April 17 that it was purchasing a 2016 Bombardier Challenger 650 jet for $28.9 million. The move, which was first reported by the Toronto Star, received widespread backlash from critics who called the purchase a waste of money at a time when food and gas expenses are high.
Ford acknowledged the criticism in a statement to media on April 19, saying the province is working with Bombardier and “other partners to sell the plane as quickly as possible.”
“Despite the best of intentions, I have heard and agree that now is not the right time for the expense of a government plane,” Ford said.
“I will continue the work of building relationships with business and political leaders, both across Canada and in the United States, to fight tariffs, attract investments and create jobs for Ontario workers.”
After news broke out that the province is now selling the plane, opposition parties reacted by saying the government was reversing its purchase in the face of widespread criticism.
The province’s interim Liberal leader John Fraser said the decision came not because Ford “saw the light. … It’s that he’s felt the heat.”
Similarly, opposition NDP leader Marit Stiles said the reversal indicated Ford was “turning the plane around mid-air for an emergency landing because he got caught living like a rockstar on your dime.”
Fraser and Stiles both referred to the purchase as a “gravy plane” when it was first announced on April 17.
The province was also met with criticism from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) after revealing the purchase, demanding the province reverse its purchase decision.
The premier’s office had justified the purchase to media when it was first announced by saying the premier travels often for work and the jet is cheaper than the $107 million Quebec paid for one pre-owned and two new Challenger jets.
Ford had boasted in 2019 that he was the only premier to not use a previous plane belonging to the provincial government.
The premier has chartered flights to the United States in the past when on trips to promote Ontario, and he often flies within the province on smaller Ontario Provincial Police planes.
He has also been known as a nervous flyer, having talked about his fear of air travel, particularly in smaller planes.
“You hit wind turbulence, and you’re—at least my heart—it just drops, and you drop 100 feet, and you’re holding on for dear life,” Ford said at a press conference last October.
