Ontario government sold Bombardier the plane bought for Ford — Dawn

In Canada, the government of the province of Ontario sold back to Bombardier a used Challenger 650 business jet that had been purchased for Premier Doug Ford. According to Dawn, the 2016 aircraft was bought for CAD 28.9 million for the Ontario head of government's travel around the province and to the United States.

Criticism of the spending

The purchase was announced on April 17. An Ontario government representative said the aircraft would be used only for official business, not private travel. Ford's office explained the need for the plane by citing safer, more flexible and more confidential travel across the large province, as well as visits to the United States.

Ontario New Democratic Party opposition leader Marit Stiles called the aircraft a “gravy plane,” a play on Ford's previous statements about his intention to stop wasteful public spending. She said spending about CAD 30 million on a private plane was unacceptable while provincial residents face rising housing rent and food costs.

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Ontario Liberal Party interim leader John Fraser also criticized the purchase, calling it out of touch with reality. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation called for abandoning spending on the plane, saying the premier could use commercial flights.

Sale of the aircraft

Several days after the announcement, Ford acknowledged that this was not the best time for such spending. He said he had heard people's concerns and that the provincial government was working with Bombardier and other partners to sell the plane as quickly as possible.

Ultimately, the aircraft was sold back to Bombardier at the original price of CAD 28.9 million. At the same time, according to the publication, the purchase and subsequent sale of the aircraft cost Ontario's budget about CAD 200,000 in additional expenses.