Ontario Premier Doug Ford has reversed course on the purchase of a $28.9-million private jet for his travel, saying the province will sell its Bombardier Challenger 650 “as quickly as possible.”
Ford said on Monday that he heard “loud and clear from the people” that it wasn’t the right time to buy a plane, but suggested other premiers didn’t face the same level of public scrutiny when it comes to private jet travel.
Ford pointed to Quebec’s purchase of three Challenger jets for a total of $107 million. He said “a double standard” seemed to be in play, though a spokesperson for the Quebec government told CBC News those planes were for medical evacuations — not for the premier.
The controversy has raised questions about how often Canada’s leaders fly on private aircraft, whether rented or owned.
CBC News reached out to offices of the premiers from coast to coast to see how the provinces and territories book air travel. Most said the premiers use primarily commercial flights for official business, with private or chartered flights used only in special circumstances.
Premiers expected to operate ‘as cheaply as possible’
Given the majority of premiers’ work-related travel would be within their own province, it would be hard for them to justify flying private, said Lori Turnbull, a political science professor at Dalhousie University.
“You’re going to do travel around the country, you’re going to go to First Ministers meetings and things like that … but there’s going to be a limit to how much that actually happens,” she said.
It’s also just a bad look politically, she added.
“There’s a sense that people expect, especially in hard times, for the premier to do things as cheaply as possible,” she said.
“It’s really difficult to ask people to accept cuts to services and programs and at the same time see that the premier might be making expenses that are for comfort as opposed to because it’s really in the interests of the public,” Turnbull said.
Here’s what each premier’s office said about how they travel for work:
Prince Edward Island
A spokesperson for P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz said he travels exclusively on commercial flights.
Press secretary Emily Blue said the province’s policy is to always book economy, with some exceptions for flights longer than five hours where other options aren’t available.
“Ministers and Deputy Heads, when travelling to destinations that require five (5) hours flying time or less, shall travel economy class,” reads part of the province’s travel policy.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he’s been heavily scrutinized for Ontario’s purchase of a private jet while the federal government and Quebec’s provincial government haven’t faced similar questions.
Nova Scotia
Premier Tim Houston also travels on commercial flights, spokesperson Catherine Klimek told CBC News.
Klimek said Houston has boarded a charter plane on just one occasion. He travelled with the prime minister to Stephenville, N.L., on a seven-seater plane arranged by the federal government.
New Brunswick
A spokesperson for Susan Holt, New Brunswick’s premier, confirmed the leader flies commercial in an email.
Newfoundland
The office of Newfoundland’s Premier Tony Wakeham said the premier conducts his travel on commercial flights in economy class.
“His travel arrangements are made with a focus on professionalism, efficiency, and responsible use of public resources,” the spokesperson said.
Quebec
A spokesperson for Quebec’s transport ministry told CBC News the premier does fly private — but on chartered flights, and that there is no government plane for the premier’s exclusive travel.
Manitoba
Amy Tuckett-McGimpsey, Manitoba’s director of cabinet communications, said Premier Wab Kinew flies coach on commercial flights, but that charter flights “may be used on occasion to access northern or remote areas.”
Saskatchewan
Premier Scott Moe always travels on commercial flights nationally and internationally, his communications director Jill McAlister-Lane said.
“The premier uses charter flights infrequently when no other viable option is available,” she said, typically short hauls between Saskatoon and Regina.
Alberta
“The Premier travels commercially for domestic and international trips,” wrote Danielle Smith’s press secretary Sam Beckett in an emailed statement.
“Any use of non-commercial aircraft has to be approved and disclosed to the Ethics Commissioner in accordance with the Conflicts of Interest Act.”
British Columbia
A spokesperson for B.C. Premier David Eby said the six-foot-seven leader flies commercial economy within Canada.
Charter flights can be used for remote areas or in cases where scheduled flights aren’t regular, the spokesperson said in an email to CBC News.
Officials on long-haul overseas flights are allowed to book in other flight classes, with a focus on the most economical option, the statement said.
Yukon
Premier Currie Dixon flies commercial and travels economy, his spokesperson said.
Northwest Territories
Premier R.J. Simpson travels on commercial flights, according to his press secretary.
Nunavut
Nunavut Premier John Main travels on commercial flights “the majority of the time,” his spokesperson said via email.
The spokesperson also noted that there are limited options for air travel in Nunavut.
“If a chartered plane has to be used for travel, the costs are scrutinized to ensure the travel is justified,” the spokesperson wrote.
Prime Minister Mark Carney
As for the prime minister, he travels on government aircraft for both official and personal travel “in line with RCMP security requirements and established operational protocols, with the Royal Canadian Air Force ensuring safe, secure transport,” a spokesperson for the prime minister’s office said.
“Any contingency must meet these same standards.”
