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Doug Ford Reduces Staff, Cuts $1 Million in Spending in Ontario Premier's Office
Travis Kann said the office will relocate staff and require approval for new hires after opposition criticism over spending and salaries.
On Thursday, Chief of Staff Travis Kann announced a hiring freeze and eliminated 10 positions in Ontario Premier Doug Ford's office, generating $1,074,500 in annual savings.
Facing criticism for office spending growth, the move addresses salaries that topped $8 million in 2025—a more than 150 per cent increase since 2019 when Ford took office.
Kann stated the office aims to "rationalize" costs "without compromising our ability to advance the premier's ambitious agenda," while the government mandated five-day return-to-office requirements for public servants.
During a press conference in Windsor on Thursday, Ford confirmed the reductions, stating "You've got to lead by example," as his administration addresses scrutiny over hotel expense claims by Toronto-area MPPs.
Kann is now working with other ministries to "encourage comparable savings" across the enterprise, asserting the government "takes very seriously our responsibility to treat taxpayers with respect.