Ontario Premier Doug Ford would not confirm whether former tourism minister Stan Cho will stay in the Progressive Conservative caucus after the Toronto MPP stepped down from cabinet following revelations about hotel and other expenses that he has agreed to repay.
Premier stops short of removing MPP from caucus
Asked about Cho’s status at an unrelated news conference Monday, Ford described the conduct as “unacceptable” but declined to say whether the MPP for Willowdale will remain part of the PC caucus.
"Unacceptable," Ford said when pressed by reporters about the expense issue.
Cho resigned from his role as minister of tourism, culture and gaming last week after he said he would personally reimburse more than $16,000 in hotel costs billed to the legislature. Media reports have also suggested his riding association was billed for thousands of dollars for meals, flights and accommodation over the past three years.
What is known so far
- Cho represents the Toronto riding of Willowdale.
- He resigned as minister after pledging to repay more than $16,000 in hotel expenses.
- Reports indicate additional charges were billed to his riding association over a three-year period (2023-24 to 2025-26).
The premier reiterated that the expenses were not acceptable as questions intensified about whether the matters were handled according to the legislature’s rules. Cho had previously said that the hotel claims met criteria for "special circumstances" under legislative rules but still offered to reimburse the amounts personally.
Official record and timeline
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legislator | Stan Cho (Willowdale) |
| Position | Former minister of tourism, culture and gaming |
| Expense period reported | 2023-24 to 2025-26 (media reports) |
| Amount Cho pledged to repay | More than $16,000 |
Questions remain about the extent of amounts charged to the riding association and whether any additional review by the legislature or the party will follow. The government has previously moved to review rules governing accommodation claims by MPPs, particularly those representing Toronto ridings, and this incident is likely to revive that discussion.
For constituents and the public, key questions include whether the payment will be completed, whether any formal investigation will occur, and whether caucus discipline will change Cho’s status as an MPP. The premier’s refusal to give a definitive answer leaves those matters unsettled for now.
Further developments are likely to depend on the internal decisions of the Progressive Conservative caucus and any actions taken by legislative authorities responsible for expense oversight.
