Just days after announcing plans to buy a private jet, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the province will now move to sell its newly acquired plane, acknowledging concerns about the timing and cost of the purchase.
In a statement to CTV News Sunday morning, Ford said the decision comes after hearing public feedback and reassessing priorities.
“Despite the best of intentions, I have heard and agree that now is not the right time for the expense of a government plane,” he wrote.
“The province is working with Bombardier and other partners to sell the plane as quickly as possible. 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.”
The province says it is now working with Bombardier and other partners to offload the aircraft as quickly as possible.
Ford’s comments marks a sharp reversal from the government’s earlier move to secure the plane, which had been positioned as a tool to support economic outreach and investment efforts.
The process to sell the aircraft is now underway.
Critics say purchase was ‘terrible timing’
When news first broke of the government’s $28.9 million purchase, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles told CP24 that the premier was “out of touch.”
“Ontarians are struggling…and the premier of this province thinks now is a great time to buy a private jet. I think it’s a terrible timing,” she said Friday morning.
“It tells you now how out of touch he is, that he doesn’t even take regular flights like the rest of us.”
The pre-owned 2016 Challenger 650 sits up to 12 passengers with a “spacious interior,” according to the company’s website.
FORD PLANE Views from the Challenger 650 where the company notes it has the “Widest-in-class cabin.” (Bombardier Challenger photo).
At the time, Interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser, told Newstalk 1010 that the move was not cost effective.
“You can use charters. It’s actually more efficient. It’s more cost effective,“ he said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
Ford’s office previously said the plane would help ease the premier’s “extensive travel,” citing regular travel throughout the province and the need to make frequent trips to the United States.
This is a breaking news story, more details to come…