That headline will get the dander up of more than a few people. To some, his very name is a lightning rod, and how anyone could defend Doug Ford is unbelievable. Certainly, most of the mainstream media believe that and quite likely the comment section of this article will be filled with people who believe that as well.
But I don’t.
Regular readers of Listen Up will know that I do not always agree with Ontario Premier Doug Ford and have not hesitated to speak out when I believed it to be necessary. But the two issues he is being pummeled for now, the purchase of a used $28.9 million jet and legislation to exempt Cabinet members from the Freedom of Information Act, I can defend.
First, however, let’s look at what the Province of Ontario represents. This province has a huge economy, a nominal GDP of about $1.2 trillion. That GDP has grown by 5.1% in 2024 and by 4.2% in 2025. Ontario’s economy is nearly double that of Quebec. Ontario alone accounts for about 38-40% of Canada’s GDP.
If Ontario were a country, it would rank among the world’s top 20 economies, and it is larger than the economies of many G20 nations. Ontario is also among the top subnational economies in the world, and outside of the United States, quite likely the largest.
The Premier of Ontario is the Chief Executive Officer of this mammoth public corporation, ultimately responsible for ensuring the resources and the national and international respect required to protect the interests of the province and the sixteen million people who live here.
Now let’s turn to this $28.9 million jet about which there is so much kerfuffle. There are two areas where I think things could have been handled better.
The rollout, including the timing of this announcement, was terrible, in my view. To try to sneak it out on a Friday night before a weekend, with the hope that fewer people would see it, was just wrong, especially when there were inadequate talking points to accompany it.
Premier Ford’s communications people should have known that this was going to be a major issue that the media would jump all over, requiring strategies, specific rationale and message management with background information, including why this purchase was in the best interest of everyone in Ontario. That did not happen.
Instead, most, if not all, of this was left for Premier Ford to deal with after the cat was out of the bag. If I were him, I would have a pretty blunt and potentially career-changing discussion with my comms. people about the manner in which this entire matter was handled.
As well, once the announcement was made about the jet purchase, I think it was unwise to back down. That would have required a different key-issue management strategy, but there is a case to argue that the jet purchase was the right thing to do.
Whatever damage there was by making this announcement, it was done. It happened. Backing off would not have changed that damage significantly, and it only gave a bloodthirsty media another opportunity to go after Doug Ford again, this time for flip-flopping.
The mainstream media is having a heyday over the Ford government’s purchase of a private plane.
When Ford was in Ottawa last Monday, he was scrummed about the purchase, and one journalist felt comfortable in writing about it this way. “When he met the media (in Ottawa) on Monday, the premier prattled on earnestly and self-pityingly about how busy he is, how important he is, how valuable his time is.” Actually, as the leader of one of the top twenty economies in the world, he is and should be all three of those.
Another, less biased reporter at that very same scrum, having heard Ford’s rationale, which was thorough in its delivery for purchasing the jet, asked him, “Then why did you sell it?”
Although it is barely reported, there is a strong case for purchasing this jet.
First of all, this was not Doug Ford’s airplane, as so many people want to describe it as his gravy plane. It was a government plane, which, yes, was purchased for use by the Premier, but also for the use of Cabinet members and senior bureaucrats when it is necessary to travel on government business. This is not a luxury. It is the cost of doing business at a level that is fitting for the size, responsibilities and reputation of Ontario.
I can remember, as his chief of staff, flying around the province with then-Premier Frank Miller in a King Air. It was cramped, uncomfortable and not conducive to conducting business. As well, it was not always safe. I remember one trip to Northern Ontario where the weather turned bad and Frank Miller, himself a pilot, looked out the window as we were starting to descend and said, “We are not going to make it.” Sure enough, in that little plane, the flight was aborted, and we returned to Toronto without landing.
Second, there is the matter of security. Premiers, Prime Ministers and yes, Presidents require it when they travel with enough space and facilities to ensure their safety.
This is especially important under current circumstances, where political leaders increasingly become targets. That may be why the government of Quebec has three jets at their disposal. Surely Ontario, with twice the economy, should at least have one.
Finally, and probably most importantly, we should reflect on a premier’s primary responsibility, which is to protect Ontario’s economy so that the needs of its people can be met. There is an argument to be made that in these challenging times, the money spent on a jet could be much better spent elsewhere. I would suggest another side to that.
Ontario is caught in the middle of a potentially crippling tariff war. The only way to protect Ontario’s economy is for Premier Ford and his leadership team to “sell” Ontario as a place to trade and to seek new partners who are willing to do that. This is at a time when almost every jurisdiction in the Western world, other than the United States, is doing the same thing.
That requires extensive travel, not just in Canada but in the United States, Mexico and South America. We cannot come to these meetings with both governments and mega-corporations looking like beggars, hat in hand.
In developing new relationships and in maintaining those we already have, image and stature are important, and competition is high. Ontario, as a significant economic force with a great deal to offer its potential partners, must live up to those challenges and expectations if it is going to attract significant investments and trade deals for Ontario.
It is those investments and partnerships that will provide Ontario with the resources it requires to adequately fund the needs of many people and programs that desperately need it. In comparison, the jet would have been a drop in the bucket.
Just to add fuel to the fire, let me deal briefly with the other issue currently plaguing the Ford government. I also have some empathy for their legislation that limits freedom of Information requests for Cabinet members. Of course, transparency in government is important, but that does not mean that some issues, negotiations, conversations, and strategic planning should be subjected to the full light of public knowledge. It just doesn’t work that way, in my view. That goes to telephone conversations as well. There are times when privacy is a necessity of doing business.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is not perfect. He can be bombastic at times, but he is not afraid to make the tough decisions, even when they sometimes backfire on him. Most importantly, he fights hard for Ontario, and he remains a leading figure in defending Canada’s interests at an extremely challenging time for this country.
On balance, I think he is a pretty good premier.
Hugh Mackenzie
Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to the former Premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.
Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.
In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.
Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.
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Headline: “Ford in trouble as Ontario Liberals pull ahead of PCs in new poll”
“only 27 per cent approved of the job Ford was doing while 68 per cent disapproved.”
Worse than Trump.
About time Ford’s many “alternative facts”, scandals, backpedals, flip flops and undemocratic actions are finally catching up to him.
Couldn’t agree more.
I am not the least surprised at this latest questionable decision by DF. I have learned to expect such tone-deaf notions from our Premier. Until there is change, we can expect this over and over again.
Lets be fair. Lets give credit where credit is due and criticze where that is due. Yes Doug has done some questionable things, but he is working quite well with PM Carney. Imagine Poilievre with zero economics experience arguing with Carney about economics. Doug sometimes moves to quickly, but there is so much that needs to be done. Is it better to be too quick or too slow. Doug did an excellent job in his recent interviw with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer discussing Trump’s insulting treatment of Canada. Doug came across as a sesnsible stateman compared to Trump and Poilievre. I expect he earned the respect of many Americans that day.
Thank you, Hugh. I understand some of your points of view; it is not like there are no other planes in Ontario that he could use. In his response to reporters, he inferred that the other premiers travelled by private plane. When his response was investigated, all of the provinces stated that their premier travelled in economy class on regular flights. As a former Mayor and District Chair, you are aware of the rules relating to government business. Why does he continue to conduct business on his private phone? What is he trying to hide?
My issues with this government are not with his plane, which was a stupid decision during these economic times, but the inconsistencies.
1. He tried to keep public servants to a 1% wage increase, which he lost in court. Then he gives himself and his MPP’s a 35% wage increase for 51 days in session during the year.Also, he was asking for a pension plan, when most people today need to pay into their own plan.
2. He has underfunded education and health care, and gives money to private colleges and private clinics. We heard about the 500 jobs lost in Oshawa in the auto sector, but what about the 10,000 college jobs that were eliminated? He has appointed financial supervisors to oversee some boards of education at an extravagant cost to taxpayers, when most of the problems that the Boards of Education are experiencing are due to his underfunding. Maybe our MPP’s should spend two days every week working in schools and hospitals, so they understand the reality of the situations. Instead of holding barbeques and Photo Ops in the 209 days that they are not in session, working in these places may justify a $185,000 salary.
3. He spends millions on advertising both here and in other countries. As a taxpayer, I am tired of listening to ads that tell us what the Province and the Federal government have done, when most of what they are claiming has not been accomplished. These ads should be paid for by the party because they are basically election issues. His ads in the States backfired and caused more problems.
4. He is elected to run our province, and he needs to stay out of local politics. He involves himself in issues like speed cameras, bike lanes and spends a fortune on legal challenges. Now he is going after expansion
of an airport, which will be another expensive legal cost.
5. He has changed th O.S.A.P. qualifications, and many students will no longer be able to get an education, unless they come from wealthy families. We used to have a reputation for having a great education system. That won’t be the case for very long if we continue on the current path.
6. He says he is for the little person, but he constantly seems to partner with corporations that provide services like spas, hotels, and expensive housing projects that most people can’t afford.
7. He spent a lot of money on making beer and liquor more accessible, so we will now have more impaired drivers on our highways.
8. We elected an MPP who is supposed to represent the people of their riding. It would be nice if that person had monthly meetings in their riding to find out what their constituents wanted I wish that we had a system that did not support only the party line and that would actually question the decisions made by their leader.
To my partisan Liberal friends commenting on this, can we do some horse trading? Ford gave back the plane, can we now get back some of the $500 million that McGuinty and Wynne wasted cancelling the gas plants? Can we get back some of the $60 million wasted on the ArriveCan app? Can we get back any of the $40 million funneled to Chretien’s friends in the Sponsorship scandal? I’ll stop before I move on to all of Trudeau’s disgraces, I know that’s still a touchy subject
Ontario has a $14!! billion deficit coming up. Almost double Wynne’s.
Yet another campaign promise fail. Among many, many others.
Mismanagement like that deserves a jet?
Hugh thinks Ford deserves credit for all successful companies and Ontario’s large economy?
So his phone records should be a secret?
Ford fans = MAGA fans.
Ford prefers opaque government not transparent. And Ford fans agree? Wow.
Regular readers do NOT agree mismanagement deserves a jet and do NOT agree his phone records should be secret.
Democracy and transparency are just red tape preventing Ford from dictating and getting his way.
First undemocratic strong mayor powers and now Ford appointed undemocratic strong municipal chair powers. Might as well eliminate all elected councillors since Ford and his minions can override them.
Ford backpedals a lot.
The jet is just the latest example.
Instead of ready, aim, fire with him it’s always fire, aim, ready the spin and backpedal.
He spends more time backpedaling than going forward.
Most people would just try going the opposite direction.
Entire articles have been written listing his backpedaling.
“From Peel to the Greenbelt to licence plates: A list of Ford government reversals”
CUPE with Bill 128, unreadable license plates, Autism and education funding cuts, carding, playgrounds etc etc.
Typically when he makes an obvious mistake he initially sticks with it, then caves after many people pound some sense into him.
Headline: “Doug Ford’s Government Has Reversed 9 Major Policies.”
Headline: “What policies and cuts the Doug Ford government reversed”
Also “Ford government decides to cancel some minister’s zoning orders after review”
A competent government wouldn’t need to backpedal.
Ford government = overwhelming incompetence.
He’s still whining he deserves a personal Gravy Plane.
Chartering a jet for the odd long trip is fine.
Owning one is not.
$29 million is just the start of the ongoing costs of owning a jet.
Ford claimed “he had the best intentions.” Yes, he never intended to get caught.
The Gravy Plane was a hidden item in the budget.
So Ford and his minions were aware it is not deserved or justified.
Ford falsely claimed other provinces have jets for their premiers.
Especially Quebec who have 3.
More “alternative facts” from Ford.
Easily debunked.
Quebec’s jets are for medical transport.
“Yes, Doug Ford, Quebec bought private jets — but not for the premier’s travels”
“We asked Canada’s premiers if they fly private. Here’s what they said”
None have a private jet. Commercial with the odd charter for a long trip. Which is fine.
“$28.9M private jet province bought, plans to sell, could have used only 10% of Ontario airports”
His Gravy Plane was likely mostly to go from the Island airport to Muskoka airport where the runway is long enough. On the way to his cottage.
Which explains why he was desperate to have jets at the Island.
Ford also claimed he gets calls every day saying people think he deserves a jet.
Really? Name one person.
Or we can check your phone records.
Oh wait… those records are still secret.
Ford prefers opaque government not transparent.
And so does Hugh apparently.
Freedom of Information is the bigger issue here. Blocking this access, retroactively, is so suspicious, and very un-democratic. If circumstances arise where government secrecy is absolutely required, there are rules/legislation applied to maintain the confidentiality, which includes a redaction process.
And to the point of Ford’s comm team…really? The guy shoots his mouth off regularly. I suspect his team is helpless in trying to help him with the intricacies of public speaking.
Mmmm Hugh!
I think you were right on one count – your regular readers do NOT agree with you on this one. With respect, please add me to that list.
Hugh I didn’t read past the 3rd paragraph because I decided to fact check your numbers before reading further. This is from the Ontario governments own report.
Ontario’s real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 0.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, following a 0.7 per cent decline in the second quarter. Ontario’s real GDP rose by an estimated 1.2 per cent in 2025,
The cynical amongst us would suggest that the whole plane debacle was a distraction from the real issue – FOI!
Brian Murat is spot on!
Owning a jet is a very expensive option indeed.
Insurance, crew to be available at all times, maintenence of the craft, etc, etc.
Provincial government officials do not require a plain every day, but owning it would incurr costs every day.
Hiring a plane when required is a much more economical option. Has that option been considered?
Hugh, I’d like to see your op-ed on the Ford Government’s Bill-97 that was rammed through without debate or discussion. Would you defend that? Doug Ford is using his majority to destroy democracy. I believe Graydon Smith voted on party lines for this Bill. That’s not working “for the people”. “Plan to Protect Ontario Act”…NOT.
Sorry Hugh, I think you drank the Con koolaid on this one. The OTHER Premieres take charted flights not private jets. Those three Quebec planes you referenced are also used for many tasks including rescue operations. They are not exclusively used by the Premiere (now resigned). Bill Davis made the mistake of purchasing a private jet in the day and quickly realized his error..and traded them for two firefighting planes. What is Doug Ford doing with “his” ( our) jet? Make no mistake, that jet was paid for by our hard earned tax dollars. The optics are bad on this one. I really am mystified as to how you can still defend Doug Ford after all his foolish choices.
Hugh, You do no have to own the plane to use the plane. If there are circumstances where using a larger, faster, private plane make sense then Ontario could clearly use one of the jets available through several companies that offer this kind of service. I imaging. One could consider Novajet, Vinci Aviation, JetOne just to name a few. All Canadian Companies.
Under these circumstances you do not have pay at least two pilots to be available all the time. You do not have to pay to store the plane in a hanger and you do not have pay for the maintenance or insurance.
Certainly this approach should be considered before buying a plane with all the costs associated.