Ontario Premier Doug Ford revealed on Wednesday that he was not previously informed about the Progressive Conservative Party’s expenditure on surveilling former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie in Jamaica in 2023. According to reports from The Trillium and POLICORNER, the provincial party allegedly utilized nearly $3,000 from donor and taxpayer funds to conduct surveillance on Crombie during her visit to two five-star resorts in Jamaica for opposition research purposes, as per accounts from anonymous sources familiar with the operation.
The alleged surveillance reportedly occurred six days following Crombie’s victory in the Liberal leadership race in December 2023, while she was vacationing in Jamaica, as disclosed by The Trillium and POLICORNER. Although CBC News has not independently verified these claims, the Ontario PC Party issued a statement acknowledging their engagement in opposition research activities, including the trip to Jamaica in December 2023.
During an unrelated press conference on Thursday, Ford disapproved of the purported surveillance, stating that he had taken action after learning of the allegations. He clarified that the expenses were covered by party funds, which are partially comprised of taxpayer money through per-vote subsidies allocated to political parties in Ontario.
Ford emphasized that incidents like this are not uncommon in politics, likening the situation to media coverage of his trips to the U.S. When questioned about his knowledge of the incident excusing any responsibility, Ford emphasized his trust in his team to ensure appropriate spending practices, noting that he does not monitor every dollar during campaigns.
Regarding the likelihood of similar tactics in the future, Ford expressed his hope that such actions would not be repeated, advocating for fair and balanced elections. Crombie refrained from commenting on the allegations but confirmed her vacation in Jamaica post the 2023 leadership race, staying at one of the resorts mentioned in the PC party’s financial statement for 2023.
The PC Party’s 2023 financial report, obtained by CBC News from the NDP, revealed expenses of $1,000.05 at the Ocean Eden Bay and $1,971.67 at the Royalton Negril Hotel in Jamaica, lacking specific details on the nature and timing of these expenditures.
Opposition party leaders, such as NDP Leader Marit Stiles and interim Leader of the Ontario Liberals John Fraser, condemned the alleged surveillance as inappropriate and an abuse of power. Stiles criticized the behavior as reminiscent of “creepy Trump-style politics,” calling for accountability within the party, while Fraser labeled it as an unjustifiable misuse of public funds to target political adversaries, raising concerns about Ford’s willingness to engage in such actions.