What to know
- Doug Ford purchased a $30M Bombardier Challenger 650 for government travel, sparking immediate backlash
- Critics, including Marit Stiles, and residents argued the money should go to public services instead
- Ford quickly reversed course, saying the province will sell the jet and that it’s not the right time for the expense
- Ontarians support the decision but say the purchase should never have happened, calling for investment in healthcare, education and transit
As Premier Doug Ford moves to sell a nearly $30 million private jet just days after its purchase, Ontarians say he’s making the right decision.
On Friday, Ford’s office confirmed plans to purchase a second-hand Bombardier Challenger 650, manufactured in Canada in 2016.
The premier’s office said the jet would be used for extensive travel within Ontario and across Canada, particularly for Council of the Federation and First Ministers’ Meetings, as well as travel to the United States.
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The purchase sparked a wave of reaction and backlash from politicians and community organizations, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles, who said the premier should be flying economy like the rest of Ontarians.
Now, just a few days later, media reports indicate that Ford intends to sell the plane as quickly as possible, with his office saying now is not the right time for the government to expense such a purchase.
Torontonians support the move, urge Ford to reinvest funds into public services
Now Toronto spoke with residents about the decision to return the jet. Many, including Armand Baksh, support the move but say the deal should never have happened.
“It just seemed like the worst purchase imaginable for Ontario,” he said.
Baksh says the money should be used to “not defund our services.”
“Healthcare, education, OSAP, all the things that we need to actually build the province,” he said. “For a guy that says he works for the little guy, he doesn’t, in any way.”
Another resident, Peg Mcelwayn, agrees with Baksh and says Ontario doesn’t have the budget to support such a cost.
“It should be going towards the taxpayers who actually live in Ontario, that’s where it should be going, not towards him,” she said.
One woman, Kaylin, says the choice to return it was clear.
“I feel like he had no other choice, you gotta f**king return it,” she said.
She says she’d rather see that money invested into transit.
“The TTC, fix the TTC,” she said.
