Premier Doug Ford told reporters in August 2026 that he had no knowledge that the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party had spent money to monitor former Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie while she was in Jamaica in 2023. The premier said the information about the alleged surveillance reached him only weeks before his public comments, and he expressed surprise at the claim.
The allegation centers on a 2023 trip by Crombie to Jamaica, during which the Progressive Conservative Party is accused of using party resources to track her movements. No details have been released about the nature of the monitoring or the amount of money involved. The party has faced scrutiny over the use of funds for political purposes, and the current revelation adds a new dimension to the ongoing discussion about internal oversight.
Ford’s statement came as the Ontario PC Party continues to respond to questions about its financial practices. The premier emphasized that any unauthorized spending would be contrary to party policy and that an internal review would be undertaken to determine how the alleged surveillance was authorized. He did not provide further specifics about the review process or its timeline.
Bonnie Crombie, who previously led the Ontario Liberal Party, has not publicly commented on the surveillance allegations. The incident has drawn attention to the broader issue of political parties employing surveillance tactics against opponents, a practice that raises legal and ethical concerns.
The matter is expected to be examined by party officials and may attract interest from provincial authorities responsible for overseeing political financing. As the story develops, both the Progressive Conservative Party and the former Liberal leader are likely to face continued public and media scrutiny over the claims of unauthorized monitoring abroad.