Ontario’s Tourism Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho has resigned from cabinet after facing criticism for expensing $16,000 in Toronto hotel stays despite living in the city.
In a statement shared on social media, Cho said he was resigning effective immediately and was taking “full responsibility” for his “mistake.” He said he would continue to serve as MPP of Willowdale, a north Toronto riding.
He said he reviewed every claim he made for accommodations in Toronto when legislature sat late and was “satisfied they met the criteria set out in the members’ guide.”
Cho said on late nights he “made a choice that was easier,” but that he did not consider how the decision would look to a constituent “working a double shift.”
“Looking back now, I made a mistake,” he said, adding he doesn’t want to be a distraction from the party’s plan for the province.
“I have therefore personally repaid those expenses in full, to the penny.”
WATCH | Province, Ford to update on wildfires in northern Ontario:
Publicly available expense records show that some of Ford’s cabinet ministers and other caucus members who live in and near Toronto had been using a so-called special circumstances rule on Toronto hotel expenses since about 2023.
Cho did not rack up the largest bills, but his riding is much closer to Queen’s Park than the other top spenders.
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.
At an unrelated news conference Friday, Premier Doug Ford said Cho did the right thing by resigning.
He said he’s made it clear to the entire caucus that the expenses are “totally unacceptable” and “not tolerated.”
“Every single person is going to pay back every single penny,” he said.
The government has said it intends to eliminate the rule that let members who live within 50 kilometres of Queen’s Park expense those hotel stays in extenuating circumstances, such as snowstorms.
Opposition party leaders spoke out Friday saying the rule wasn’t the issue, rather it was that Progressive Conservative members were abusing it.
John Fraser, interim leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, said in a news conference that Cho’s resignation is “just the beginning,” as other ministers and members of provincial parliament are also involved.
He called for the resignation of any other cabinet ministers found to have abused the rule, which was an exception and not meant to be used “as the norm.”
“There are consequences. You have to be responsible. You have to be accountable,” Fraser said, adding the province needs to show receipts of what happened and how much was spent.
The “pattern of abuse of taxpayer dollars” by the party isn’t surprising given the Premier’s recent controversial purchase, then sale, of a private jet, he said.
Tourism minister and Toronto MPP to repay $16K spent on hotel accommodations
Ford government looks to axe rule that allowed Toronto MPPs expense hotel stays in city
NDP Leader Marit Stiles said Cho’s resignation does not explain the $16,000 in hotel expenses and that he was not alone “in his suite life adventures.”
“Ford’s MPPs were caught with their hands in the taxpayer’s pockets, and it’s time for some real answers,” she said. “PC MPPs billed taxpayers over $120,000 for their luxury hotel stays.”
Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner said the “exorbitant” hotel bills are part of a larger concern with Ford’s government that cannot be solved with a resignation.
“While ordinary Ontarians are struggling to make rent or pay for groceries, members of the Ford government are using taxpayer dollars to fund their own lifestyles,” he said.
