Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated on Wednesday that he had no prior knowledge of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party’s expenditure to purportedly monitor former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie during her visit to Jamaica in 2023. Reports from The Trillium and POLICORNER revealed that the party allegedly utilized nearly $3,000 from donors and taxpayers to book stays at two luxury resorts in Jamaica for the purpose of surveilling Crombie as part of opposition research efforts, as disclosed by anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
The alleged surveillance reportedly occurred shortly after Crombie’s victory in the Liberal leadership race in December 2023 when she was on a brief vacation in Jamaica, according to The Trillium and POLICORNER. While CBC News has not independently verified these claims, the Ontario PC Party defended its actions, emphasizing that such activities are part of standard opposition research practices, which in this case included travel to Jamaica in December 2023.
During a separate news briefing, Ford expressed disapproval of the alleged surveillance, mentioning that he had addressed the issue with the party upon learning of the accusations. Ford clarified that the expenses were covered by party funds, which are partly sourced from taxpayer money through per-vote subsidies allocated to political parties in Ontario.
When questioned about his lack of awareness regarding the incident, Ford underscored his reliance on his team to oversee appropriate spending, highlighting that he cannot monitor every dollar during campaign periods. Responding to inquiries about the continuity of such tactics, Ford expressed hope that similar occurrences would not repeat, emphasizing the importance of fair and balanced elections.
Although Crombie declined to comment at present, she verified her vacation in Jamaica following the leadership contest in 2023 and acknowledged staying at one of the resorts listed in the PC party’s financial statement for 2023. The financial statement obtained by CBC News from the NDP revealed expenses at the Ocean Eden Bay and Royalton Negril Hotel in Jamaica, though details on the timing, duration, and purpose of the expenditures at the latter location remain undisclosed.
Opposition party leaders, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles and interim Leader of the Ontario Liberals John Fraser, condemned the alleged surveillance, labeling it as unethical and an abuse of power. Stiles criticized Ford for seemingly dismissing the issue, calling for accountability within the party, while Fraser demanded transparency regarding the individuals involved in the surveillance operation and raised concerns about the misuse of public funds for political targeting.