Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed surprise at the revelation that his Progressive Conservative Party had allocated funds to reportedly monitor former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie during a trip to Jamaica in 2023. Reports from The Trillium and POLICORNER unveiled that the party purportedly spent nearly $3,000 from donations and public funds on two luxury resorts in Jamaica for the purpose of surveilling Crombie as part of opposition research activities, as per undisclosed sources familiar with the situation.
The surveillance allegedly occurred shortly after Crombie’s victory in the Liberal leadership race in December 2023, while she was enjoying a brief vacation in Jamaica, according to The Trillium and POLICORNER. Although CBC News has not verified these claims independently, the Ontario PC Party issued a statement acknowledging their engagement in opposition research that included travel to Jamaica in December 2023.
Ford, addressing the issue at an unrelated press briefing, disapproved of the reported surveillance, mentioning that he was unaware of the incident until he learned about it on Wednesday and subsequently discussed it with party members. He clarified that the expenses were covered by party funds, which include subsidies from taxpayers due to the province’s political party funding model.
Regarding accountability, Ford emphasized that he relies on his team to ensure appropriate spending and hinted at his hope that such tactics would not be repeated in the future. Crombie refrained from commenting on the allegations but confirmed her visit to Jamaica in December 2023, staying at one of the resorts listed in the PC party’s financial statement for that year.
Moreover, NDP Leader Marit Stiles condemned the alleged surveillance on social media, criticizing it as unacceptable behavior reminiscent of divisive politics. Stiles demanded accountability within the party and urged consequences for those responsible for authorizing the expense. Interim Ontario Liberals Leader John Fraser echoed similar sentiments, denouncing the use of public and donor funds for surveilling political opponents as an abuse of power and a violation of ethical standards in politics.
The situation has sparked concerns among opposition leaders and the public, raising questions about the extent of political tactics employed and the ethical boundaries within the political landscape.