Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he only recently learned that his Progressive Conservative Party allegedly spent nearly $3,000 to follow former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie during a private trip to Jamaica in 2023.
Ford said Thursday that he does not approve of the alleged surveillance and was unaware of the spending until Wednesday.
Reports by The Trillium and POLICORNER claimed the party paid for stays at two Jamaican resorts as part of opposition research.
CBC News has not independently verified the allegations.
The alleged operation reportedly took place six days after Crombie won the Ontario Liberal leadership in December 2023.
The Progressive Conservative Party confirmed that its opposition research included travel to Jamaica that month.
However, the party did not say that the trip was specifically intended to monitor Crombie.
Party Spending Raises Questions
Financial records show the party spent $1,000.05 at the Ocean Eden Bay resort in Jamaica.
The records also list $1,971.67 in expenses at the Royalton Negril Hotel.
The financial statement does not specify when the expenses occurred or who claimed them.
It also provides no details about the purpose of the Royalton Negril spending.
Crombie confirmed that she vacationed in Jamaica after the Liberal leadership race.
She also confirmed that she stayed at the Ocean Eden Bay resort.
Ford said political parties conduct various activities during election campaigns.
He added that he does not personally monitor every dollar spent by his party.
“I don’t watch every single dollar when I’m in the middle of a campaign,” Ford said.
When asked whether similar tactics could happen again, Ford replied that he hoped they would not.
He also called for fair and balanced elections.
Opposition Demands Answers
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles strongly criticized the alleged surveillance.
She said following a political opponent during a private vacation was inappropriate.
Stiles also questioned who within the party approved the spending.
She called on Ford to take responsibility rather than dismiss the issue.
Interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser also demanded answers from Ford.
Fraser questioned why someone was allegedly sent to follow Crombie in Jamaica.
He also asked who authorized and participated in the operation.
According to Fraser, using party funds to track a political opponent raises serious concerns.
The allegations have renewed questions about political opposition research and campaign spending.
Crombie has declined to comment further on the allegations.
Meanwhile, Ford says he wants elections to remain fair and balanced.