Doug Ford backs off government plane purchase, seeks to sell aircraft

Just days after announcing plans to buy a nearly $30 million private jet, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the province will now move to sell its newly acquired plane, acknowledging concerns about the timing and cost of the purchase.

In a statement to CTV News Sunday morning, Ford said the decision comes after hearing public feedback and reassessing priorities.

• Doug Ford facing criticism over purchase of $28.9M private jet

“Despite the best of intentions, I have heard and agree that now is not the right time for the expense of a government plane,” he wrote.

“The province is working with Bombardier and other partners to sell the plane as quickly as possible. I will continue the work of building relationships with business and political leaders, both across Canada and in the United States, to fight tariffs, attract investments and create jobs for Ontario workers.”

The province says it is now working with Bombardier and other partners to offload the aircraft as quickly as possible.

Ford’s comments marks a sharp reversal from the government’s earlier stance, which had been framed as a tool to support economic outreach and fight tariffs across the border.

The process to sell the aircraft is now underway.

Critics say purchase was ‘terrible timing’

When news first broke of the government’s $28.9 million purchase, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles told CP24 that the premier was “out of touch.”

She reaffirmed that same sentiment despite government’s reversal.

“It just shows you, again, how out of touch the premier is right now,” Stiles said Sunday morning.

“It wasn’t us raising our voices that made him change his mind. I think it was the fact that Ontarians were flooding his cell phone and his MPP offices with complaints,”

While details about the pre-owned 2016 Challenger 650 were not initially released by the province, according to the company’s website the aircraft holds up to 12 passengers with a “spacious interior.”

Stiles went on to add that government’s attempt at reversing the purchase reminds her of the controversial Ontario Greenbelt scandal in 2022.

“I have to say it reminds me a lot of the premier’s promises during the attempt to carve up the Green Belt, he only backs down and does the right thing when he gets caught,” she added.

“I certainly hope that we don’t sell this (plane) at a massive loss”

Ford’s office previously said the plane would help ease the premier’s “extensive travel,” citing regular travel throughout the province and the need to make frequent trips to the United States.

This is a breaking news story, more details to come...