Premier Doug Ford said he listened to the will of Ontarians after announcing, then quickly backtracking on, the province’s decision to buy a $28.9-million private jet for his use.
Ford told reporters Monday that “no one” in the country is more scrutinized than he is.
“I am willing to take that,” he said.
“I heard loud and clear from the people that this was not the time to purchase a plane…. I’m a premier that listens to the people.”
In a statement issued Sunday, Ford said he was looking to sell the used Bombardier Challenger 650 “as quickly as possible.”
That decision came just days after the jet’s purchase was revealed, then met with backlash from opposition parties, advocacy groups and the public alike.
“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 wrote Sunday.
Jaime Watt, executive chairman of the crisis management firm Navigator, told CBC Radio’s Metro Morning on Monday that the controversy amounts to “a bit of an own-goal” for the provincial government, though he personally would support Ford and other Ontario premiers having the plane.
Part of the problem, he said, was the province didn’t provide the public with information, like how many flights Ford has taken as premier, and how much public money has been spent on renting private aircraft.
“The way it came out … he sort of got behind the eight-ball on it, and as a result, he probably had to just make the decision that he did,” Watt said.
“I think that what people in his office and the premier himself probably calculated was … they’re watching the opinion polls, they’re watching how the Liberals are doing even without a leader, and they’re not wanting to do anything that’s going to hurt them.”
A government source told CBC News on Friday that the province has been working for several months to buy the jet. They had expected it to be in operation by the end of July.
The plane was purchased directly from Bombardier and was previously owned by someone in South America, the source said.
Ont. government buys private jet for Doug Ford to use
The province said Friday that the jet, which was made in Canada in 2016, would have allowed for “more certain, flexible, secure and confidential travel” and was not going to be used for personal travel.
Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser said in a statement Sunday that the purchase amounted to Ford wanting to live like a billionaire on the taxpayer dime.
“Doug Ford didn’t see the light. He felt the heat,” said Fraser. “Now, only after intense backlash, he’s scrambling to sell his gravy plane.”
He said the sudden decision to sell could mean the jet could be sold at a loss “and sit on the books as a liability for taxpayers for months.”
“How much is this going to cost Ontarians? We may never know,” Fraser said.
Watt agreed that the public will zero in on what the return for the province will be once the jet is sold.
“Of course, now, everyone’s going to be asking how much does he sell the plane for, and what’s the difference between that and what he paid for the plane?” he said.
