Ford's Texas trip to talk trade, tariffs cost taxpayers over $93K, internal document reveals
Ontario Premier Doug Ford's recent trade mission to Texas cost taxpayers over $93,000, sparking criticism from opposition leaders who question the value of the trip. While the government defends the visit as a necessary step to strengthen economic ties and attract investment, critics label the expenditure as excessive.
Why it matters
The story reflects ongoing public scrutiny regarding government spending on international travel and the effectiveness of political trade missions.
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:
Ford visited Houston, Dallas and Austin during the trip. He mainly met with business leaders and companies. His expected meeting with Texas governor and longtime Trump ally Greg Abbott did not happen.
Everything you need to know about Ford’s visit to Texas
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in