Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated on Wednesday that he was not previously informed about the Progressive Conservative Party’s expenditure to potentially monitor former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie in Jamaica in 2023. Media outlets, including The Trillium and POLICORNER, reported that the provincial party purportedly utilized nearly $3,000 from donors and taxpayers to stay at two luxurious Jamaican resorts for the purpose of observing Crombie as part of opposition research. The sources cited in the report preferred to remain anonymous.
According to The Trillium and POLICORNER, the alleged surveillance occurred shortly after Crombie secured the Liberal leadership in December 2023, while she was on a three-day vacation in Jamaica. CBC News has not verified these claims independently. However, the Ontario PC Party released a statement acknowledging that like other political parties, they conduct opposition research, which in this case involved a trip to Jamaica in December 2023.
Ford disapproved of the reported surveillance during an unrelated news conference and mentioned that he had addressed the issue with the party after learning about it on Wednesday. He emphasized that the expenses were covered by party funds, which partly consist of taxpayer money allocated through per-vote subsidies.
When questioned about his knowledge of the incident absolving him of responsibility, Ford explained that he relies on his team to ensure proper spending. He expressed hope that similar tactics would not be repeated in future elections and emphasized the need for fair and balanced electoral processes.
Former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie declined to comment on the allegations but confirmed her Jamaican vacation in December 2023, staying at one of the resorts listed in the PC party’s 2023 financial statement. The financial statement, acquired by CBC News from the NDP, disclosed expenses at the Ocean Eden Bay and Royalton Negril Hotel in Jamaica without specifying the purpose or duration of spending at the latter.
Opposition party leaders, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles and interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser, criticized the alleged surveillance as unethical and an abuse of power. Stiles condemned the act as reminiscent of “creepy Trump-style politics,” calling for accountability within the party. Fraser labeled the incident as an extraordinary misuse of public funds and raised concerns about Ford’s approach towards targeting political opponents.
