CBC News reached out to offices of the premiers from coast to coast to see how the provinces and territories book air travel. Most said the premiers use primarily commercial flights for official business, with private or chartered flights used only in special circumstances.
Prince Edward Island
A spokesperson for P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz said he travels exclusively on commercial flights.
Nova Scotia
Premier Tim Houston also travels on commercial flights, spokesperson Catherine Klimek told CBC News.
New Brunswick
A spokesperson for Susan Holt, New Brunswick’s premier, confirmed the leader flies commercial in an email.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The office of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Premier Tony Wakeham said the premier conducts his travel on commercial flights in economy class.
Quebec
A spokesperson for Quebec’s transport ministry told CBC News the premier does fly private — but on chartered flights, and that there is no government plane for the premier’s exclusive travel.
Manitoba
Amy Tuckett-McGimpsey, Manitoba’s director of cabinet communications, said Premier Wab Kinew flies coach on commercial flights, but that charter flights “may be used on occasion to access northern or remote areas.”
Saskatchewan
Premier Scott Moe always travels on commercial flights nationally and internationally, his communications director Jill McAlister-Lane said.
Alberta
“The Premier travels commercially for domestic and international trips,” wrote Danielle Smith’s press secretary Sam Beckett in an emailed statement.
British Columbia
A spokesperson for B.C. Premier David Eby said the six-foot-seven leader flies commercial economy within Canada.
Yukon
Premier Currie Dixon flies commercial and travels economy, his spokesperson said.
Northwest Territories
Premier R.J. Simpson travels on commercial flights, according to his press secretary.
Nunavut
Nunavut Premier John Main travels on commercial flights “the majority of the time,” his spokesperson said via email.
The spokesperson also noted that there are limited options for air travel in Nunavut.
PEI has one commercial airport, and only like five daily flights only to Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. Almost everyone I know here has been on a flight with a premier or a member of Parliament.
A spokesperson for B.C. Premier David Eby said the six-foot-seven leader flies commercial economy within Canada.
They don’t have to add his height here to impress me, but i’m impressed nonetheless
I assume they mentioned his height because flying economy would be quite inconvenient and uncomfortable for someone that tall. It would be easy for him to say he has to fly business class just so his legs can fit in the seat.
I think its to show that even if not ideal, he still flies economy. There are many average people that height that upgrade their ticket for more leg room. They specified economy class for travel within Canada, which probably means he gets more room and a more expensive seat when flying outside of Canada on longer flights.
At one point you could book early and get the emergency exits, which was a relief for me. Now you have to pay.
the point of his height is that commercial planes don’t fit anyone over 6 feet tall.
I’m 5-11 and the rare times I fly I go for the upgrade just to keep the rage at bay. I feel for David as his experience must only be excruciating.
The last time I flew home and couldn’t get the Bump was so challenging, with some fucking kid kicking my seat constantly (probably out of boredom. I get it, but there are options). After a few escalating glances at his parent, I did consider asking whether he was going to police his child or whether I need to teach him some words I learned in the army so he could repeat them at school. Just then, we got the “tray table” announcement, though, and the child had other things to focus on.
“Any use of non-commercial aircraft has to be approved and disclosed to the Ethics Commissioner in accordance with the Conflicts of Interest Act.”
Now see which provinces have one of these acts.
Ontario is missing here (sorry, the actual article is down for me atm).
Ontario is the province that just bought the premier a private jet, which presumably is the point of this article.
It would be good to know what he was flying before?
Did he charter private jets all the time before this?
If I were to make an educated guess then I’d say yes he was probably chartering private jets all the time. Ford is such a POS and I hate my province for repeatedly electing him (by way of voting for or not voting at all)
He was flying on OPP run aircraft.
We already forgot Ford bought a >$50,000 party van in 2019. But nothing sticks to this clown.
The document shows the van would be kitted out with a dozen specialty items, including a mini-fridge, a 32-inch television with Blu-ray player, a leather power reclining sofa bench, four swivel chairs and desks, for a total price of $50,696 (HST included).
