Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed surprise on Wednesday upon learning about allegations that his Progressive Conservative Party had spent funds to surveil former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie in Jamaica in 2023. According to reports by The Trillium and POLICORNER, the party reportedly used nearly $3,000 from donor and taxpayer money to conduct surveillance on Crombie at two luxury resorts in Jamaica shortly after she won the Liberal leadership in December 2023. The sources cited in the story remained anonymous.
Although CBC News has not independently verified these reports, the Ontario PC Party released a statement acknowledging their involvement in opposition research, which included the Jamaica trip in December 2023. Premier Ford disapproved of the alleged surveillance, mentioning that he was unaware and had addressed the issue with the party members.
Ford clarified that the expenses were covered by party funds, which include taxpayer money through a per-vote subsidy. He compared the incident to media coverage during his trips to the U.S., stating that such occurrences are common in politics. Crombie did not comment on the allegations but confirmed her vacation in Jamaica in 2023, staying at one of the resorts listed in the PC party’s financial statement.
When questioned about his knowledge of the surveillance, Ford stated that he relies on his team to oversee appropriate spending and hopes such tactics would not continue in the future. NDP Leader Marit Stiles condemned the alleged spying, calling it “disgusting” and demanding accountability within the party for approving such actions. Interim Leader of the Ontario Liberals, John Fraser, criticized the incident as an abuse of power and public funds, raising concerns about the extent of political targeting under Ford’s leadership.