Ontario taxpayers paid $11,709.85 [1] for commercial flights and hotel accommodations for Premier Doug Ford and his staff during a trip to Orlando, Florida [1].
The expenditure has drawn scrutiny because it contradicts previous statements made by the premier regarding his spending. The trip involved travel to the Disney area to attend a conference for a private-sector union [3].
Records show that the trip occurred in mid-July 2025 [1]. Traveling with the premier were Labour Minister David Piccini and two unnamed staff members [1]. The total cost for the group's travel and lodging was reported as $11,709.85 [1], though some reports rounded this figure to $11,700 [2].
Ford said he had "zero expenses" [2]. However, the official expense disclosure records show the public covered the costs of the trip [2].
The union hosting the conference has repeatedly endorsed the Progressive Conservatives [3]. Additionally, the organization has received millions in government funding [3].
The use of public funds for travel to a private-sector event remains a point of contention for critics of the administration. The discrepancy between the premier's public comments and the official records highlights a gap in transparency regarding government spending.
“Taxpayers paid $11,709.85 for commercial flights and hotel accommodations”
The conflict between official expense records and the Premier's public assertions suggests a lack of transparency in the Ontario government's financial disclosures. By funding a trip to a union that both supports the governing party and receives public money, the administration faces potential accusations of using taxpayer funds to maintain political alliances.
