Ontario Premier Doug Ford disclosed on Wednesday that he had no prior knowledge of the Progressive Conservative Party’s expenditure to allegedly conduct surveillance on former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie during her trip to Jamaica in 2023. According to reports by The Trillium and POLICORNER, the provincial party reportedly spent close to $3,000 from donations and taxpayer funds on two luxury resorts in Jamaica for the purpose of monitoring Crombie as part of opposition research efforts. The information was sourced from anonymous individuals familiar with the operation.
The purported surveillance occurred shortly after Crombie’s victory in the Liberal leadership race in December 2023 while she was vacationing in Jamaica for three days, as detailed by The Trillium and POLICORNER. CBC News has not independently verified the claims made by The Trillium and POLICORNER.
In response to the allegations, the Ontario PC Party issued a statement asserting that opposition research, including the Jamaica trip in December 2023, is a standard practice for political parties. Premier Doug Ford disavowed the alleged spying during a separate press briefing, stating that he disapproved of the actions and had addressed the matter with the party upon learning of it on Wednesday. Ford clarified that the expenses were covered by party funds, which are partially sourced from taxpayer money through per-vote subsidies.
Regarding his oversight of such activities, Ford mentioned that he relies on his team to ensure proper spending and that he does not micromanage campaign finances. When asked about the continuation of similar tactics in the future, Ford expressed his hope that they would not persist and emphasized the importance of fair and balanced elections.
Former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie refrained from commenting on the accusations but confirmed her visit to Jamaica in December 2023, staying at one of the hotels indicated in the PC party’s 2023 financial records. The NDP provided CBC News with a copy of the PC Party’s 2023 annual financial report, showing expenses at Ocean Eden Bay and Royalton Negril Hotel in Jamaica. However, details on the timing, duration, and purpose of these expenses were not included in the statement.
Opposition party leaders, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles and interim Leader of the Ontario Liberals John Fraser, condemned the alleged surveillance as inappropriate and an abuse of power. Stiles criticized the actions as reminiscent of unethical political practices, demanding accountability within the party. Fraser highlighted the misuse of public and donor funds for targeting political adversaries, raising concerns about the extent to which such tactics have been utilized previously.