Ontario Premier Doug Ford has reversed a controversial decision to purchase a nearly $30 million government jet, announcing the province will now seek to sell the aircraft after days of intense public and political backlash.
In a statement released Sunday, Ford acknowledged growing concerns over the timing and cost of the purchase, saying the government had reconsidered its priorities. He said that while the original intention was to support economic outreach, attract investment and strengthen Ontario’s response to tariffs, the expense was no longer appropriate under current circumstances.
The province had recently acquired a pre-owned 2016 Bombardier Challenger 650 for $28.9 million. Officials had defended the purchase as a practical tool for the premier’s frequent travel across Ontario, Canada and the United States, where Ford has been actively promoting trade and investment opportunities.
That explanation did little to quiet critics, who argued the purchase sent the wrong message during a period of affordability pressures for many Ontarians. Opposition leaders said the decision reflected poor judgment and a disconnect from everyday financial realities facing residents.
Marit Stiles said the reversal showed the government only changed course after widespread public outrage. Interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser also welcomed the backtrack but said questions remain about how the purchase was approved in the first place.
The government says it is now working with Bombardier and other partners to sell the aircraft as quickly as possible. It remains unclear how much of the original purchase price Ontario may recover or whether taxpayers could face a financial loss in the resale.
The episode marks a sharp political setback for Ford, whose government had strongly defended the purchase just days earlier by comparing it to aircraft acquisitions made by Quebec and the federal government. Instead, the swift reversal highlights how sensitive public spending decisions can become when economic pressures dominate the political landscape.
For many observers, the controversy has become less about the plane itself and more about public trust, priorities and accountability at a time when voters are watching every dollar governments spend.