‘We got to stop treating Ontario like a banana republic’: Ford defends use of charter flights

Ontario Premier Doug Ford responds to criticism surrounding taking private charter flights and if he has plans to purchase another private jet.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending his use of charter flights in the wake of criticism over his government’s short-lived, since abandoned purchase of a private jet.

Ford made the comments during a news conference on Thursday when questioned about his frequent use of charter flights to travel around Canada and the United States, noting that he would “continue to charter when needed.”

Global News has previously reported that the Ontario government spent more than $140,000 on private plane charters to at least five destinations in 2025.

A spokesperson for Ford’s office would not confirm that number to CTV News on Friday, only saying that “decisions about travel are made on a case-by-case basis, depending on security, scheduling, the availability of commercial flights, and the availability of the OPP aircraft.”

“Let’s talk about that,” Ford said when asked about charter flight travel on Thursday. “I went to Ottawa last week, everyone knows it’s 45 minutes there, maybe an hour back. By the time you leave, you wait in line, spend about seven hours your whole day. If you think that’s productive as a leader of the 19th largest economy in the entire world... we’re going to disagree. We got to stop treating Ontario like a banana republic because that is what it is being treated like.”

Ford noted that he did take a charter flight to Texas for a recent trade mission. He said that the charter flight allowed him to visit three cities and partake in 13 different meetings with Fortune 500 companies on Ontario’s behalf, which he suggested will result in $6 billion investments.

“I couldn’t hit three cities in Texas and 13 appointments if i didn’t charter,” he said.

Calls for a review

In May, documents from the premier’s office revealed that taxpayers are still on the hook for nearly $200,000 following the government’s flip flow on the $28.9-million jet purchase.

Since then, opposition leader Marit Stiles has called on Ford to personally repay any additional costs around the jet purchase and sale. She also sent a letter to Ontario Auditor General Shelley Spence requesting “a comprehensive audit and investigation” into the purchase and resale of the jet.

There is no word on whether an official independent audit or investigation is underway. The government did however recently strike down a motion by Ontario NDP Shadow Finance Minister Jessica Bell (University—Rosedale) who tried to call for an inquiry.

‘No plans’ for another jet

When asked about whether the government plans to revisit another jet purchase down the line, Ford noted there are no plans at this time.

“I have no plans outside of outside of the OPP, outside of Ornge, which are absolutely critical,” he said.

Ford, however, did continue to make the case for the purchase, noting that when he tells colleagues in the U.S. that the premier’s office doesn’t have its own jet for government travel “they think it is a joke.”

“We’re a massive, massive province, 1,070,000 square kilometers... until you fly it, never ever under understand how large Ontario is.”

“We have to keep up with the rest of the country, keep up with the U.S. who we’re competing against, and we have to get down there and promote Ontario, and that’s what exactly what we’re going to continue doing.”