Doug Ford getting an almost $30M taxpayer-funded private jet and Ontario has thoughts
Doug "protect the taxpayer" Ford is taking heat over the Ontario government's purchase of a nearly $30 million private jet to shuttle the p…
www.blogto.comHere’s the latest on Doug Ford’s private jet situation, based on recent reports:
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Ontario announced it would sell the nearly $28.9 million pre-owned Bombardier Challenger 650 acquired for Premier Doug Ford’s use, after significant public backlash. The government said the sale would occur “as quickly as possible” and that the jet would be sold for the same price paid, once a buyer is found. This followed widespread criticism that the purchase was ill-timed amid affordability concerns for Ontarians. [Source: CBC report dated April 19, 2026; Global News coverage of the initial resale decision on April 18, 2026][1][3]
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Subsequent updates indicated the sale did occur at the same price, with Ford stating the plane had been sold back to the original seller (Bombardier) at the same price. The government framed this as a rapid reversal in response to public sentiment. [Source: CP24/CTV-style coverage and Global News briefings dated April 21–19, 2026][4][6]
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Reactions across the political spectrum remained critical, with opposition parties and watchdog groups continuing to label the initial purchase as wasteful during an affordability crisis, while Ford and aides insisted the move was intended for secure, flexible government travel and that lessons had been learned. [Sources: CBC, Global News, Ontario NDP statements][3][5][1]
Illustration of timeline:
- Purchase announced (late April 2026): $28.9M pre-owned Bombardier Challenger 650 for Premier’s travel.
- Public backlash grows; Ford commits to selling it quickly.
- Sale completed at the same price; controversy persists around the initial decision.
If you’d like, I can compile a concise timeline with exact dates and quotes from each outlet, or summarize the key political implications for Ontario’s travel policy and fiscal oversight.