Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently expressed his surprise upon learning that his Progressive Conservative Party had reportedly allocated funds to monitor former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie in Jamaica in 2023. The Trillium and POLICORNER detailed that the party allegedly spent close to $3,000 from donor and taxpayer contributions at two luxury Jamaican resorts for the purpose of observing Crombie as part of opposition research efforts, citing information from undisclosed sources familiar with the operation.
The reported surveillance occurred shortly after Crombie’s victory in the Liberal leadership race in December 2023, during her brief stay in Jamaica, as outlined by The Trillium and POLICORNER. While CBC News has not independently verified these claims, the Ontario PC Party issued a statement acknowledging their engagement in opposition research, including the trip to Jamaica in December 2023.
Premier Ford, responding to the allegations, disapproved of the purported spying and mentioned that he had addressed the issue with the party after being made aware of the situation. He clarified that the expenditure was covered by party funds, which are partly sourced from taxpayer money through per-vote subsidies.
Ford emphasized the nature of political activities, stating that such incidents were not unusual in the realm of politics, drawing a comparison to media coverage during his trips to the U.S. He indicated that he depends on his team to ensure proper allocation of funds, hinting that he does not personally oversee every campaign expenditure.
When questioned about the possibility of similar tactics in the future, Ford expressed his hope for fair and equitable elections, suggesting a desire to avoid a repeat of the situation. Meanwhile, Crombie refrained from commenting on the matter but confirmed her vacation in Jamaica following the leadership race and her stay at one of the resorts mentioned in the PC party’s 2023 financial documentation.
A review of the PC Party’s 2023 annual financial statement by CBC News, obtained from the NDP, disclosed expenses at the Ocean Eden Bay and Royalton Negril Hotel in Jamaica, without specifying the nature, duration, or beneficiaries of these transactions. The opposition party leaders, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles and interim Leader of the Ontario Liberals John Fraser, condemned the alleged surveillance as inappropriate and an abuse of power, calling for accountability and transparency from Premier Ford regarding the incident.