Doug Ford, the leader of the Canadian province of Ontario, has been criticised for his government’s purchase of a pre-owned C$28.9m ($21m; £15.5m) private jet, with opposition leaders calling it a “gravy plane”.

News of the purchase was first reported by the Toronto Star newspaper on Friday and was later confirmed by the premier’s office in a statement to media.

The plane is a Bombardier Challenger 650 executive jet, built in Canada in 2016. Ford’s office said it will be used primarily for his travel, including to the US “to help make the case against President (Donald) Trump’s tariffs”.

The purchase drew heat from Ford’s political opponents, who called it “out of touch”.

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Story update April 19th: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxd8g47wnlo

The Canadian province of Ontario is now selling a jet recently bought for Premier Doug Ford, after he faced criticism for the purchase of the private, pre-owned jet for C$28.9m ($21m; £15.5m).

Ford’s office had said he would use it for official travel, including to the US to advocate against the Trump administration’s tariffs. But after confirming the purchase on Friday, he drew flak from political opponents who called it a “gravy plane” and “out of touch”.

On Sunday, Ford said in a statement that it will be sold “as quickly as possible”.

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