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Concerns have arisen regarding Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s recent trip to Washington D.C., particularly surrounding its usage by the Progressive Conservative Party (PCP) for campaign purposes. According to a letter released by Ontario’s top civil servant, Michelle DiEmmanuel, the PCP exploited images from this government-supported trip in their political advertisements, raising ethical questions about the trip conducted during a caretaker mode.
The trip, which saw Ford and his PCP delegation travel via private plane, was framed as a two-day initiative aimed at opposing tariffs and included significant engagements such as a meeting at the White House. Notably, this occurred while the Ontario government was officially in caretaker mode, a period characterized by protocols designed to prohibit political entities from leveraging taxpayer resources for campaign activities.
While the PCP financed most of the trip, elements like Ford’s speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and materials pertaining to “Fortress Am-Can” were funded by taxpayer money, complicating the accountability of the trip. Shortly after the trip concluded, the PCP disseminated a campaign video across social media platforms that prominently featured Ford alongside candidates Vic Fedeli and Stephen Lecce engaging in various activities during the visit.
This advertisement quickly garnered attention from DiEmmanuel, who promptly ordered the removal of the video after recognizing it was being used in violation of caretaker conventions, which restrict the deployment of public resources for political gain. In her correspondence to Liberal candidate John Fraser, DiEmmanuel noted, “On the morning of February 14th, when I became aware that the video was posted on social media with the Progressive Conservative Party Campaign slogan and Party logo, I immediately reached out to the Premier’s Chief of Staff to request that the video of the mission not be used for campaign purposes.”
Political Accountability Under Scrutiny
Patrick Sackville, Ford’s chief of staff, subsequently indicated that the inclusion of the PCP campaign branding in the video was a mistake and assured DiEmmanuel that it would be taken down. Furthermore, he collaborated with the integrity commissioner to examine these matters further.
DiEmmanuel also brought to light the involvement of campaign staff masquerading as government employees during the Washington trip. These videographers and photographers were included in the official staff list for the mission, causing concern about the legitimacy of their presence. DiEmmanuel’s letter clarified that these individuals were not actual public servants and emphasized that their addition to the delegation was an oversight.
The Ontario Liberal Party has seized upon this incident, accusing Ford of bending the rules surrounding campaign financing and ethical governance. A spokesperson for the Liberals remarked, “Ford has zero regard for Ontario taxpayers and even less for the rules and conventions of our democracy.”
Despite the unfolding controversy, Ford defended the trip, asserting that he acted in accordance with guidance from the integrity commissioner. DiEmmanuel supported this stance, confirming that the trade mission was pertinent to “urgent business” and thus justified the public service’s involvement. She articulated that the mission was essential for addressing important matters affecting Ontario and underscored the event’s significance by noting that a majority of attendees from the Chamber of Commerce event had substantial interests tied to the U.S.
However, questions linger regarding the financing of the trip concerning the 38 percent of attendees who were affiliated with Ontario. DiEmmanuel’s communications have not yet prompted a public response, leaving some aspects of this situation open to interpretation as further developments unfold.
Source
globalnews.ca