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Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s spring trip to Texas to talk trade and tariffs cost taxpayers just over $93,000, a decision note obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information request reveals.
The total cost for the multi-day trip, including a two-day “advance mission” to finalize its logistics, was $93,179, according to the decision note.
“All efforts have been made to maximize outcomes and minimize costs,” the document says.
According to the note, those cost-saving measures included the following:
- Securing the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan as a sponsor, reducing costs by $7,500.
- Hosting a reception, rather than a dinner or lunch, at a venue that had low rental and catering costs.
- Keeping staffing “to a minimum.”
- Securing hotel rooms at government rates.
Ford visited Houston, Dallas and Austin during the trip, which was first reported by the Toronto Star. He mainly met with business leaders and companies. His expected meeting with Texas governor and longtime Trump ally Greg Abbott did not happen.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is in Texas meeting politicians and business leaders to discuss trade with Ontario. CBC’s Lorenda Reddekopp breaks down what we know about the trip and what Texans are saying about tariffs.
Groundwork laid for new investment: premier’s office
The premier’s office defended Ford’s trip, telling CBC News that Texas and Ontario have a “long-standing trade relationship that benefits families, workers and businesses on both sides of the border.”
“While in Texas, the premier met with over 10 major employees and laid the groundwork for billions of dollars in new investment, more good-paying jobs, and stronger economic ties between Ontario and the United States,” it said in an emailed statement Tuesday.
The office also said the province’s trade with Texas makes up nearly half of Canada’s total trade with the state, and Texas is ranked number two in exports to Ontario and number four in imports from Ontario.
Opposition leaders, meanwhile, slammed the premier’s trip, calling it a waste of money.
NDP Leader Marit Stiles said she hasn’t seen “any indication” that the trip brought in “any investment.”
“It sounds like the most expensive trip to Texas I’ve ever heard of,” she said.
“Nothing seems to explain that kind of price tag.”
Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser called the trip a “dog and pony show.”
“I’m not sure what was achieved down there. I know he didn’t meet with the governor,” said Fraser, adding he’d like to see the results of the trip and what investments were brought back to Ontario.
“The thing I’d like to see is the premier actually travelling to places like Japan or India or Europe, we know that we have to diversify our partnerships,” he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has paused 50 per cent tariffs on Canada, saying the two countries have reached a new trade deal that just needs to be finalized. In a statement, Prime Minister Mark Carney said ‘substantial progress has been made.’
Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner said Ford needs to travel in a way that’s “transparent and honest” with taxpayers.
“I’m all for the premier going to the U.S. and defending Ontario. What I’m not for is a government that’s going to try and waste our tax dollars on private luxury jets, fancy hotel rooms and expensive dinners,” he said.
The decision note did not provide a breakdown of the trip cost. CBC News asked the premier’s office for a breakdown of the expenses, but it did not provide one in its response.
