Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed surprise on Wednesday upon learning about allegations that his Progressive Conservative Party had spent funds to conduct surveillance on former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie in Jamaica in 2023. Reports from The Trillium and POLICORNER detailed that the party purportedly utilized approximately $3,000 from donors and taxpayers to monitor Crombie during her visit to two luxury resorts in Jamaica shortly after winning the Liberal leadership in December 2023. While CBC News has not verified these claims independently, the Ontario PC Party acknowledged engaging in opposition research activities that involved travel to Jamaica in December 2023.
Ford, during an unrelated press briefing on Thursday, disapproved of the purported spying and stated that he confronted the party about the allegations upon learning of them. He clarified that the expenses were covered using party funds, which are partly sourced from taxpayer money through per-vote subsidies. Ford likened the incident to media coverage of his trips to the U.S., emphasizing that such occurrences are commonplace in politics.
In response to inquiries about his awareness of the situation and its implications, Ford emphasized his reliance on his team to oversee financial matters, particularly during campaign periods. He expressed hopes that similar tactics would not be repeated in the future, advocating for fair and balanced election practices. Crombie refrained from commenting directly on the allegations but confirmed her vacation in Jamaica after the leadership contest in 2023, disclosing her stay at one of the resorts listed in the PC party’s 2023 financial records.
According to information obtained by CBC News from the NDP, the PC Party’s 2023 financial statement included expenses of $1,000.05 at the Ocean Eden Bay and $1,971.67 at the Royalton Negril Hotel in Jamaica. However, details such as the timing and purpose of these expenditures and the individuals responsible for them remain undisclosed. The opposition party leaders, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles and interim Leader of the Ontario Liberals John Fraser, condemned the alleged surveillance, describing it as inappropriate and an abuse of power. Stiles called for accountability within the party, while Fraser criticized the use of public funds for such activities, raising concerns about Ford’s tactics against political adversaries.