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Ontario is looking to sell the $28.9 million private jet that was recently purchased for Premier Doug Ford’s use “as quickly as possible.”
It comes just days after the high-flying purchase of the Bombardier Challenger 650 was publicized and confirmed by the province. The decision was promptly met with backlash from opposition parties and advocacy groups.
Ford said in a statement Sunday that he agrees with the concerns that were raised.
“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 said.
Ford said the province is working with Bombardier “and other partners to sell the plane as quickly as possible.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office says the province bought the jet because of his ‘extensive travel’ within the province and to the United States to ‘make the case’ against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The purchase price of the pre-owned private jet was $28.9 million.
A government source told CBC News on Friday that the province has been working for several months to buy the Bombardier Challenger 650. 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. Ontario Provincial Police and Bombardier performed security and mechanical checks on the plane, and no upgrades were needed, according to the province.
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 not be used for personal travel.
Ford’s ‘gravy plane’ is ‘out of touch’: opposition leaders
Opposition NDP Leader Marit Stiles called the jet a “gravy plane” in a social media post Friday — a throwback to the term “gravy train” that was repeatedly used by Ford and his brother Rob Ford when they served as councillor and mayor at Toronto City Hall, respectively.
Stiles said Friday the premier should be “flying economy like the rest of us,” especially as Ontarians struggle with the rising cost of living.
Interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser issued a similar statement, saying the purchase was “tired and out of touch.”
More to come.
