Ontario is reversing course and will sell the $29-million private jet it recently purchased for Premier Doug Ford after critics and opposition leaders called it a waste of money.

Ford said in a statement Sunday that now is not the right time for the government to spend money on a plane.

He says the province is working with Bombardier and other partners to sell the 2016 Bombardier Challenger 650 jet.

Ford’s office had initially said the premier travels often for work and that the jet, purchased for $28.9 million, is cheaper than the $107 million Quebec taxpayers paid for two new Challenger jets and one used one.

But opposition parties slammed the expense, which comes during an extended affordability crisis, with New Democrat Leader Marit Stiles and interim Liberal leader John Fraser both calling the jet Ford’s “gravy plane.”

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner demanded Ford backtrack on the purchase, as did the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

— With files from Liam Casey

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 19, 2026.

Kathryn Mannie, The Canadian Press