Opposition leaders condemn after report accuses PC spying on Bonnie Crombie

Opposition parties say Ontario Premier’s Progressive Conservative Party crossed the line, and Doug Ford himself says he wouldn’t have done it.

That’s the response to a bombshell new report from Policorner and The Trillium saying the PCs went someone to watch now-former Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie on a vacation to Jamaica.

“Well, it’s disgusting — it’s creepy,” said Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

“Not only disturbing, but an absolute violation of someone’s privacy,” said Ontario Liberal MPP for Toronto—St. Paul’s Stephanie Smyth.

Strong condemnation from provincial opposition parties to a $3,000 trip that was paid for by donors and taxpayers to spy on bonnie crombie.

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A collaborative report from Queen’s Park outlets Policorner and The Trillium says the Progressive Conservative’s 2023 financial statement shows the money went to two Jamaican resorts, including the one the former liberal leader stayed at during a vacation in December 2023.

CHCH News has not independently verified the report, but the premier acknowledged the overseas espionage when asked about it Thursday.

“Yeah, well, I just found out yesterday — you’d have to talk to the party about it,” said Ford. “It was $3,000 of the party’s money.”

Ford says he doesn’t approve of the trip and wouldn’t accept responsibility for it.

Ford is the leader and head of the Progressive Conservative Party.

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“You know something — it’s politics, it was $3,000, I found out yesterday and that’s it,” said Ford.

“This is a very Trumpian-style of politics, this is very toxic,” said Stiles.

The Ontario NDP Leader called what happened scary, and said as leader of the PC party, Ford should be held responsible for the trip.

“That kind of trip had to be authorized by somebody very, very high up, and he is the premier of this province and the leader of his party — heads have to roll,” said Stiles.

“Who authorized this?,” asks Smyth. “Who approved this spending?”

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The Ontario Liberal MPP for Toronto—St. Paul’s wants answers and accountability, calling the spy trip the lowest of the low.

“Did you see a report on this premier, and if and when you found out about it what did you do about it?,” asked Smyth. “Where are these people now? Who were they? Let’s hear then, if it wasn’t you who was it? Who directed this operation?”

Crombie announced she was stepping down as the Ontario Liberal Leader last fall after receiving a disappointing level of support in the party’s leadership vote.

She is now running to become the mayor of Mississauga once again.

She has not commented publicly on the spying report.

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