Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed surprise on Wednesday regarding the alleged expenditure by his Progressive Conservative Party to conduct surveillance on former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie in Jamaica in 2023. According to reports from The Trillium and POLICORNER, the provincial party purportedly utilized close to $3,000 in funds from donors and taxpayers to monitor Crombie during her stay at two luxury resorts in Jamaica, as part of opposition research activities. This surveillance reportedly occurred shortly after Crombie assumed the Liberal leadership in December 2023 when she was on a brief vacation in Jamaica.
While CBC News has not independently verified the claims made by The Trillium and POLICORNER, the Ontario PC Party acknowledged in a statement that they engage in opposition research, which in this instance included a trip to Jamaica in December 2023. Premier Ford distanced himself from the alleged spying during an unrelated news conference, emphasizing that he disapproves of such actions and only became aware of the situation recently. He clarified that the expenses were covered by party funds, which partly consist of taxpayer money through per-vote subsidies.
Ford explained that he relies on his team to oversee appropriate spending, stating that he does not closely monitor every dollar during campaign activities. When asked about the potential continuation of such tactics, Ford expressed hope that they would not persist, emphasizing the importance of fair and balanced elections. Crombie declined to comment on the allegations but confirmed her vacation in Jamaica and stay at one of the mentioned hotels as per the PC party’s 2023 financial statement.
Opposition leaders, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles and interim Leader of the Ontario Liberals John Fraser, condemned the alleged surveillance as unethical and an abuse of power. Stiles highlighted the need for accountability within the party, while Fraser criticized the misuse of public funds for such purposes, raising concerns about the extent to which political opponents are targeted.