At some point, the opposition leaders at Queen's Park will have to stop talking about Doug Ford's ill-fated purchase of a private jet for his travels. But that day has not yet arrived.
Ongoing Indignation Over Jet Purchase
Once again, as they have for almost every day since the story broke a month ago, NDP and Liberal leaders expressed outrage over the latest revelation: the government spent nearly $200,000 on fees associated with its brief ownership of a Bombardier Challenger 650 jet.
NDP Leader Marit Stiles declared herself scandalized and demanded that Premier Ford personally reimburse the costs tied to the purchase and quick resale of the $28.9-million used jet back to the manufacturer.
"Will you pay the people of Ontario back for your midlife crisis?" Stiles asked in the legislature.
Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser did not demand repayment but questioned whether Ford thought it was "worth it" to waste $200,000 on his airplane "fantasy" while Ontarians struggle with grocery and gas prices.
The opposition continued to feign shock over the misuse of taxpayer money, even though the amount is minuscule compared to Ontario's $238-billion budget—a fraction of a percent.
A Scandal Nonetheless
To be clear, this remains a scandal. The purchase was bizarrely off-brand for a premier who portrays himself as a champion of the little guy. Ford failed to make any business case for why he needed a private jet for provincial business.
However, the fact that Ford sold the jet almost immediately after the story broke—and at the same price paid to Bombardier—demonstrates his eagerness to distance himself from the debacle. The carrying costs, including $139,628 for aircraft management services, seem reasonable for a luxury jet transaction.
Despite this, opposition leaders are unlikely to let the "gravy plane" story fade, as it remains a potent symbol of Ford's misjudgment.
