Ontario premier won't say if ex

Ontario premier won't say if ex-minister will remain in PC caucus after hotel expense controversy

Stan Cho has resigned as tourism minister after promising to repay over $16K in expenses

Ontario Premier Doug Ford won't say if a former cabinet minister who stepped down last week after promising to reimburse more than $16,000 in hotel expenses will remain in his caucus.

Ford was asked about Stan Cho's place in the Progressive Conservative caucus today after Global News reported the Toronto legislator had also billed his riding association for thousands of dollars in meals, flights and hotel rooms over the last three years.

Speaking at an unrelated news conference, the premier repeatedly described Cho's actions as "unacceptable," but did not say whether Cho would remain in caucus.

Global News first reported last week that Cho, who represents the riding of Willowdale and served as the minister of tourism, culture and gaming, had billed taxpayers for thousands of dollars in Toronto accommodations between 2023-24 and 2025-26.

Cho said at the time that his expenses met the criteria for special circumstances under the legislature's rules but that he would personally reimburse the full amount. He resigned as minister days later.

Ford government looks to axe rule that allowed Toronto MPPs expense hotel stays in city

MPP Stan Cho resigns from cabinet after hotel expense controversy

Cho, who was elected in 2018 and has served as associate minister of transportation, and minister of long-term care as well as tourism minister, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Monday's questions related to expenses filed to his riding association. Riding associations are funded through private donations, fundraising events and public subsidies determined by the number of votes cast for the party's candidate in the most recent election.

The Liberals provided copies of the Willowdale riding association's annual financial filings for 2023 to 2025 as they questioned why Cho remains in the PC caucus.

The documents show that in that timeframe, Cho expensed $1,500 in transportation from a limo company, nearly $3,000 at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa and more than $6,000 in fundraising expenses and meetings at a Japanese fusion tapas restaurant, among other things.

"Given the further revelations this morning about ex-minister Cho's lavish lifestyle, it's hard to believe the premier is allowing him to stay in caucus. I guess, though, in Doug Ford's caucus, that sort of thing flies," interim Liberal Leader John Fraser said in a statement.

"I guess after buying a luxury private jet, the premier doesn't have a leg to stand on," he said, referring to a nearly $30-million plane the government purchased for Ford's use, then quickly returned.

Cho's expenses 'tip of the iceberg,' Liberals say

Fraser also called on other members of Ford's cabinet to resign over their expenses, calling Cho "the tip of the iceberg."

Publicly available expense records show that, in addition to Cho, some of Ford's cabinet ministers and other caucus members who live in and near Toronto had been using the special circumstances rule on hotel expenses in the city since about 2023.

Hardeep Grewal, who represents Brampton East, had more than $27,000 in Toronto hotel expenses since 2023. Nina Tangri, the associate minister of small business who represents Mississauga-Streetsville, billed nearly $19,000.

Charmaine Williams, the associate minister of women's social and economic opportunity who represents Brampton Centre, expensed more than $15,000.

NDP calls for accountability from Ford

NDP Leader Marit Stiles said Ford must explain whether Cho and other legislators who have filed "outrageous expenses" still have his confidence.

"What I don't understand again is what kind of tone has this premier set that his ministers and MPPs think that this is an acceptable way to spend the taxpayer's dollar," she said at a news conference Monday.

"I would like to see some accountability, but again I expect that accountability to come right from the top."

Stiles also said she has filed a complaint with the Office of the Integrity Commissioner, calling for an investigation into Grewal over allegations he placed ads in a local newspaper owned by his father.

Grewal said in a statement that the Punjabi Post is a popular ethnic news outlet in Brampton, and political parties of all stripes have advertised in the paper.

"Prior to advertising, I should have consulted with the Integrity Commissioner and have since reached out to her office for advice," he said.