Ottawa residents paying close attention to Queen's Park will have noticed Premier Doug Ford taking heat this week over one of the more eyebrow-raising government expenditures in recent memory: a private jet purchased with provincial funds.
Ford came out swinging in defence of the purchase, telling reporters the plane wasn't a mistake — and offering a candid reason why. The Premier described some of his flights to remote northern Ontario communities as outright "terrifying," painting a picture of bumpy, white-knuckle trips aboard smaller aircraft that serve the province's rural and fly-in communities.
Why Ford Says the Jet Made Sense
The Premier's argument is straightforward: Ontario is a vast province, and getting to its most remote corners often means boarding small, aging regional aircraft that can make for an uncomfortable — and he says, frightening — experience. For a premier who regularly travels the province, Ford framed the private jet as a practical necessity, not a luxury.
"It wasn't a mistake," Ford told reporters, though he acknowledged the optics have been challenging from the start.
He also noted he's been "inundated" with calls from Ontarians — and presumably Conservative supporters — urging him to hold onto the plane now that the story has become public. That kind of grassroots pushback suggests the purchase has found at least some sympathy beyond Queen's Park's critics.
The Sell Pledge Stands
Despite the incoming support, Ford says the jet is going on the market. The Premier confirmed he would stick to his earlier commitment to sell the aircraft, even as pressure mounts to reverse course.
It's a bit of a political tightrope: defend the purchase as reasonable while simultaneously committing to undo it. Ford appears to be threading the needle — validating the original decision without backing away from accountability to taxpayers who bristled at the expense.
Ottawa's Stake in the Debate
For Ottawa, provincial spending decisions like this always hit a little differently. As the nation's capital and Ontario's second-largest city, Ottawa residents foot a significant share of the provincial tax bill. Whether it's transit funding, hospital dollars, or yes, a government jet, how Queen's Park spends money is felt here.
The city also sits on the political frontlines of Ontario elections, with swing ridings that have gone both ways in recent cycles. Ford's handling of controversies like this one — how he explains himself, how quickly the story moves on — matters to voters here who will weigh it come election time.
Opposition leaders at Queen's Park have pounced on the story, calling the purchase a symbol of out-of-touch governance. NDP and Liberal critics have questioned why the expense wasn't disclosed sooner and whether proper procurement processes were followed.
What Happens Next
The province hasn't confirmed a timeline for the jet's sale, and until a buyer is found, the plane remains a live political story. If Ford moves quickly to sell, the controversy likely fades. If the sale drags, expect the opposition to keep it front and centre.
For now, Ford is taking the unusual approach of defending a decision while simultaneously walking it back — and betting that his explanation of scary northern flights lands with a public that might not have thought much about what it actually takes to govern a province this size.
Source: Global News Ottawa — Ford says it wasn't a mistake to buy jet, citing 'terrifying' flights up north
