Are we all supposed to forget about the $28.9-million gravy plane?
After backlash, the Ford government’s private jet is back on the market. New reporting says some Conservatives fear the purchase “eradicated his brand”
The backlash came swiftly after the Toronto Star reported that the provincial government spent $28.9 million on a private jet for Premier Doug Ford. After just two days of outrage, the premier capitulated over the weekend, saying, “Despite the best of intentions, I have heard and agree that now is not the right time for the expense of a government plane.”
Related: The Ontario government purchased a private jet for $28.9 million
Government officials said they would promptly look into selling the Bombardier Challenger 650, at the same cost or more than what it paid, in an effort to not incur a sizeable loss.
“This is a great win for taxpayers,” Canadian Taxpayers Federation director Noah Jarvis told CBC News. “I think a lot of taxpayers viewed that as just gross, especially when our province is going deep, deep, deep into debt.” The outlet noted that the province is sitting at a debt level of $485 billion for 2026-2027, an increase from the $337 billion-mark when Ford was elected premier.
Though Ford himself boasted back in 2019 that he was “the only premier in history” who refused to fly private, saying he preferred to drive because it allowed him to stop and talk to people, we’d imagine the thought of standard civilian transportation must sting a little after briefly securing a private plane.
Speaking with reporters, Ford insisted he’s unbothered. “The people don’t want it. That’s fine with me. I don’t mind the scrutiny. I make mistakes. Every premier makes mistakes. And when I get the calls, I listen to the people,” he said.
According to a story published today by Global News, opinions among Progressive Conservative party members are divided. Some feel the gravy plane debacle is an example of Ford owning his mistakes and following the public’s lead. Another source told the outlet that the plane purchase is irredeemable.
“Ending the gravy train was what Doug Ford ran on during the first campaign,” the source said. “He’s eradicated his brand. This is the start of his undoing.”
Related: People are wondering why Doug Ford’s daughter got a 33.9 per cent raise last year
Carly Lewis is a journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times and the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Wired, Interview Magazine, Pitchfork, Elle, and Maclean’s, where she is a contributing editor. Her work has been recognized by the National Magazine Awards and the Digital Publishing Awards. She reports on city life, culture—including what people do online—politics, art and crime. She received the Dave Greber Freelance Writers Award for “The Murder of Ashley Wadsworth,” an investigative feature about a Canadian teenager who was killed by a man she met on social media, published by Maclean’s.
