Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently disclosed that he was not informed about the Progressive Conservative Party’s expenditure on surveillance activities targeting former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie during her stay in Jamaica in 2023. According to reports by The Trillium and POLICORNER, the party allegedly allocated about $3,000 from donor and taxpayer funds for monitoring Crombie at two luxury resorts in Jamaica. This information was sourced from individuals with knowledge of the operation.
The alleged surveillance reportedly occurred shortly after Crombie assumed the Liberal leadership in December 2023, while she was vacationing in Jamaica for three days. CBC News has not independently verified the claims made by The Trillium and POLICORNER. The Ontario PC Party responded to the allegations, stating that opposition research, including the trip to Jamaica, is a standard practice for political parties.
During an unrelated press briefing, Ford expressed disapproval of the purported spying and mentioned that he addressed the matter with the party upon learning about it. He clarified that the expenses were covered by party funds, which comprise taxpayer contributions through the per-vote subsidy. Ford compared the incident to media coverage of his trips to the U.S., stating that such occurrences are common in politics.
Ford emphasized that he relies on his team to oversee financial matters while engaged in campaigns and hopes that similar tactics will not be repeated in the future. Crombie refrained from commenting on the situation but confirmed her trip to Jamaica in 2023. Details from the PC Party’s 2023 financial statement, obtained by CBC News from the NDP, revealed expenses at two Jamaican resorts, although specific information on the nature and timing of the spending was lacking.
Opposition party leaders, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles and interim Leader of the Ontario Liberals John Fraser, condemned the alleged surveillance, labeling it as inappropriate and an abuse of power. Stiles criticized Ford for not taking responsibility and called for accountability within the party, while Fraser raised concerns about the misuse of public funds and the implications for political opponents.