Ford says he heard ‘loud and clear’ from public on jet purchase, but decries ‘double standard’

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/ford-says-he-heard-loud-and-clear-from-public-on-jet-purchase-but-decries-double-standard/

49 Comments

  1. ThePurpleBandit on

    He has made one single concession after a litany of complaints and investigations in to his criminally corrupt operation.

  2. viccityguy2k on

    All they had to do was have the analysis/ staff report ready that made the business case for owning the jet. Oh wait…..

    A king air or Pilatus is all that’s really needed to hop around Ontario.

  3. availablefilmruler on

    >“No scrutiny. But when I do it, I guess there’s a double standard,” he said.

    His entire persona is the local guy who meets Carney at a local run diner for a cheap breakfast/lunch meal. He would absolutely bash a Liberal or NDP premier in Ontario if he was in opposition and they bought a jet and play it up as “I would never buy a jet”.

    He created the standard he’s whining about. He’s the one who played up that “folksy” down to earth persona. Folksy people aren’t flying to Thunder Bay on a private jet. They’re driving the ~2 days.

    Also this jet purchase might have gone over better if the Ontario economy had performed well under his leadership. Sure does not seem like it. Ontario went into this Trump crisis in a weak position.

  4. Jazzlike_Finish123 on

    This idiot needs a plane to travel around Ontario.  I understand it’s a big province but how fucking often does he really need to be on a plane?

  5. CheeseSauce_86 on

    Jerk told people to commute and go back in office, while leisurely taking a plane anytime he pleases.

  6. PopeSaintHilarius on

    >He also said “people don’t realize how large Ontario is unless you’ve flown it.”

    Sure, but how often is the premier visiting northern Ontario?  A few times a year?

    I suspect it’s rare enough that his staff can book him a private plane for the day or he can fly commercial, rather than needing the provincial government to own one.

    The federal government having a plane for the PM isn’t really equivalent, because the PM has to travel all across the country and internationally.

  7. He first secured a new term, so that he could be sure to screw and play for years.

  8. mintyfresh888 on

    >I heard loud and clear from the people that this was not the time to purchase a plane

    So you’re going to buy one again later?

  9. T4whereareyou on

    Dougie has been Premier way too long. The jet purchase (and now sale) is the latest example showing how out of touch and tone deaf he is. Definitely bad form.

  10. It never made any sense to purchase the jet. A $28.9 million jet breaks down to about $80,000 a day, plus fuel, maintenance, and pilots.

    It would still be cheaper to just purchase first class or business class tickets ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per person for Ford, his OPP guard detachment that escort him, and 1 – 4 cabinet ministers who would travel with Ford if and when he needs to travel, that whould be around $10k or $15k vs the ridiculous $80k+.

  11. Just-Do-It-Lady on

    Doug Ford is trying his best to ruin our country from gutting education, purposely ruining our healthcare in an attempt to bring in privatization to introducing surveillance pricing – dude’s gotta go!

  12. KelVarnsen_2023 on

    The thing about people not realizing how big Ontario is, is really stupid. Because it’s only relevant if the only way to travel across the province in your own jet. But in reality airlines exist. And if a first class flight isn’t good enough, a Google search tells there are several companies in Toronto that do private jet charters. And if you use one of those you aren’t stuck with all the maintenance and storage costs whenever it isn’t flying.

  13. RicoLoveless on

    What double standard? Which premier got rid of planes then brought them back, no one. Completely self inflicted.

    We had planes and you got rid of them. It’s different if you were replacing an aging model.

    If the public purse isn’t full enough to spend on education or healthcare you aren’t getting toys, end of story. You have the OPP plane available.

  14. External-Pace-1822 on

    I actually imagine there was a good business case for buying the plane. I wish government officials didn’t feel the need to go to all these events in person and were better stewards of our money but that will never happen. So much of these government talks could be on zoom instead of in person but then they wouldn’t be living it up so that’s a non starter.

  15. The Quebec comparison is kinda valid but comparing it to the Federal Government is a joke. The Federal Government travels internationally constantly, and people like the Prime Minister need more security. And even then, most Federal Ministers fly commercial unless they’re travelling with the PM or the GG.

  16. Jolly-Passenger8 on

    He needs to get to Michigan somehow.Otherwise how will he cut the ribbon on that new Crown Royal facility?

  17. FullyGroanMan on

    Pretty sure the public has been “loud and clear” about most of his harmful, idiotic, and anti-democratic policies. Why is he only paying attention and backing down when a jet is concerned?

    There’s a grift in here somewhere, folks. Someone is benefitting from his capitulation and it sure as hell isn’t the people of Ontario.

  18. Admittedly, I’m not entirely against a jet purchase for a province of 16 mil.

    “Ontario has Canada’s largest provincial economy, contributing approximately 38% to the national GDP. In 2024, Ontario’s GDP was roughly $1.197 trillion CAD, with a per capita GDP of about $74,143”

    Politics be politicking though and it’s part of the reason why 24 Sussex is untouchable.

  19. If you (Ford) don’t like the “double standard”, then start doing your JOB and not being a corrupt <redacted>!!

  20. Other jurisdictions, including federal, also have dual use for these types of planes. The RCAF “VIP” plane is also a troop transport, Quebec uses its ambulance aircrafts etc.

    So yeah, a lot of bullshit in his double standard here.

    The OPP has two executive planes (foreign built obviously, couldn’t buy Canadian, right!?) so he can use that if he needs some transport

  21. waxingtheworld on

    None of his rich friends who he makes richer are willing to share their plane?

  22. DreadpirateBG on

    If you didn’t do sketchy stuff you wouldn’t be criticized so bad. These conservatives so sketchy stuff, double down on it and then complain that they re getting bad press. How clueless and disconnected can you be. Not saying Liberals don’t do sketchy stuff but the cons always seem to pull a Trump card. Just stop doing sketchy stuff.

  23. Incommunicado_5336 on

    Either he was on a binge when he made the decision to buy a plane or this is a scam for one of his buddies to pick up the plane on the cheap and have the Government take the loss.

  24. Bobcaygeon23 on

    This will all be great and go away once he gets rid of all the freedom of information act stuff – he’ll be able to steal and waste your money making his buddies richer and you’ll never be the wiser!!

  25. Doug Ford : “All public servants should be working in the office and commuting 5 days a week! Fuck you if you have to pay hundreds of dollars for parking and gas or bus passes!”

    Also Doug Ford : ” I need a private jet because I’m too important to fly commercial.”

  26. It’s almost like our politicians will see how much they can get away with before getting called out … good thing it was just Doug…. /s

  27. Intelligent-Test-978 on

    He can just use the 407. He will have it almost to himself since almost no one else can afford to use it.

  28. donforgathowlon on

    Double standard? No one else flies a private jet Doug.

    Maybe don’t use tax money like your piggy bank. As a premier of Ontario, you probably don’t need to fly THAT much anyway.

  29. OptimusCrime29 on

    And how was he gonna pay for all that jet fuel? From all the grease from his weekend BBQs?