Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday he feels he’s being held to a “double standard,” when it comes to an outcry over the government’s purchase of a $30-million private jet for his use, but said he’s nevertheless heard “loud and clear” that the public isn’t happy about the purchase.
“I heard loud and clear from the people that this was not the time to purchase a plane,” Ford told reporters at a news conference in Ottawa Monday morning. “So I’ve directed the staff, provincial staff, to be in contact, which they are, with Bombardier, sell it immediately, and at the same cost we took possession last week.”
The premier’s office confirmed Friday the government purchased a used 2016 Bombardier Challenger 650 jet for $28.9 million. Ford’s office said at the time that the jet would allow the premier to travel around the province more easily, as well as to the United States to promote the province’s interests.
However there was a swift outcry from opposition parties and the public and by Sunday, the government said it would reverse course and sell off the jet.
“I understand their concerns. I understand the cost of fuel is going up. I understand groceries are going up. I understand everything is going up and it’s costly. And I do appreciate the calls that I received saying, this is not the time right now,” Ford said.
But while Ford said he now understands the public doesn’t support the purchase, he did point out that federal ministers and other premiers fly on private planes all the time.
“No scrutiny. But when I do it, I guess there’s a double standard,” he said.
He also said “people don’t realize how large Ontario is unless you’ve flown it.”
While Ford’s office said Friday that the plane would be used to move him around more easily, the premier said Monday that it was not meant to be his personal plane.
“This was not Doug Ford’s plane. It was a government plane used by multiple ministries,” Ford said.
He recalled a trip to Texas where he had to be in three different cities in a day and said the trip resulted in over $6 billion of investment.
“You can get on the phone, you can get on a zoom call. Nothing is better than sitting across the table from your customer, meaning our customer, saying, ‘come to Ontario’ and telling them all the great things about the quality of the people here in Ontario, that’s part of a premier’s job.”
He denied that his office tried to hide the purchase, saying the government only took possession last week.
Opposition calls on Ford to pay back jet costs
Ontario Opposition Leader Marit Stiles called on Ford Monday to pay back any costs associated with buying and selling the plane.
“The people of this province are outraged and rightfully so,” Stiles said in a fiery exchange in Question Period Monday.
She called for a unanimous house vote asking Ford to personally pay for any financial losses arising from the purchase and sale, a suggestion that was quickly shot down by the PC majority.
Still, she said Ford’s “mid-air U-turn” wouldn’t save him from questions over the purchase.
“While the premier was obsessing over what colour leather would go in his private luxury jet, he was lecturing Ontario’s post secondary students, telling them to work harder and make better choices,” the NDP leader said. “So to the premier, how come when it comes to OSAP, there’s no money, but when it comes to shiny toys for the premier, there’s plenty?”
Ford was not in the house Monday, leaving Government House Leader Steve Clark and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy to answer.
Clark responded that “no government is perfect,” but said the quick reversal shows they were listening.
“You know, it shows leadership when our premier recognizes that a decision needs to be changed, and he changes it,” Clark said.
Bethlenfalvy criticized the opposition for not supporting some of the items in his latest budget, including a small business tax credit.
“I would like to know where was this private luxury jet in your budget?” Stiles shot back as one of her NDP colleagues thumbed through the pages of a copy.
“I have to say I am a bit out of my element when it comes to conversations about luxury private jets. So I don’t know if there’s a 30 day return policy on luxury jets, but I do know that ultimately, Ontarians are still going to be on the hook for the penalties and the resale losses and whatever money this province and this government have already spent on souping up the jet plane,” she added.
