Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently revealed that he had no prior knowledge of the Progressive Conservative Party’s alleged expenditure on surveilling former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie during her trip to Jamaica in 2023. Reports from The Trillium and POLICORNER indicated that the party reportedly used around $3,000 from both donor and taxpayer funds to conduct surveillance on Crombie at two luxury resorts in Jamaica shortly after she assumed the Liberal leadership in December 2023.
According to anonymous sources familiar with the matter, the surveillance operation took place while Crombie was on a three-day vacation in Jamaica. While CBC News has not independently verified these claims, the Ontario PC Party released a statement acknowledging the travel to Jamaica in December 2023 as part of their routine opposition research activities.
During a news conference, Ford stated his disapproval of the alleged spying and mentioned that he only became aware of the situation on Wednesday. He clarified that the expenses were covered by the party’s funds, which include taxpayer money through per-vote subsidies.
In response to questions about accountability, Ford emphasized his reliance on his team to oversee appropriate spending, particularly during campaign periods. When pressed about the continuation of such tactics, Ford expressed his hope that they would not persist, advocating for fair and balanced elections.
Crombie declined to comment on the allegations but confirmed her vacation in Jamaica after the leadership race, staying at one of the resorts mentioned in the PC party’s 2023 financial statement. The statement, obtained by CBC News from the NDP, detailed expenses at the Ocean Eden Bay and Royalton Negril Hotel without specifying the purpose or duration of these expenditures.
Opposition leaders, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles and interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser, condemned the alleged surveillance, calling it “creepy” and an abuse of power. Stiles demanded accountability within the party, emphasizing the need for consequences, while Fraser criticized the use of public funds to monitor political opponents, raising concerns about potential misconduct by the Ford government.