For the past three years, a senior cabinet minister in the Ford government has been billing provincial taxpayers thousands of dollars for hotel rooms in downtown Toronto, despite living just a few kilometres away from Queen’s Park — public money that he’s now promising to partly pay back.
Between 2023 and 2026, Tourism Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho charged the Ontario Legislative Assembly $16,203 for “Toronto accommodation,” according to publicly available disclosure records.
While that accommodation is only available to Toronto-based MPPs for “special or unusual circumstances,” such as a snow storm, Cho repeatedly requested repayment for multiple hotel rooms during that time period.
In one year, Cho’s Toronto hotel room expenses left taxpayers with an $11,000 tab.
Those expenses have raised questions and drawn criticism from opposition parties who point out that Minister Cho lives just six kilometres away from the Ontario legislature and is entitled to a taxpayer-funded vehicle and driver.
“Ministers are being held to a different standard under Doug Ford’s government,” NDP Leader Marit Stiles told Global News. “I think it’s like a party with the taxpayer dime.”
The details about Cho’s hotel expenses, including which hotels were booked, dates or length of stay and reasons for the accommodation requirement were not included in the public filings.
Global News asked the minister’s office for detailed information on the hotel accommodation, but didn’t receive specifics.
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Hours later, however, Cho’s office responded with a pledge that the minister would personally pay back an undetermined amount.
“While these expenses meet the criteria for special circumstances as set out by the Legislative Guide for Member’s expenses, I will be personally reimbursing the legislature for any expense that does not meet the spirit of the policy,” Minister Cho said in a statement.
The next morning, his office said he would actually pay the entire tab.
Global News has asked the minister’s office to clarify the “the spirit of the policy” and how much money would be paid back.
Hotel expenses
Between 2018, when Cho first won the Toronto-area riding of Willowdale , and 2022, the minister didn’t require the benefit and didn’t submit any expenses for overnight hotel stays in the city.
That trend began to change in 2023 before dramatically increasing over the past year:
- 2023-24: $1,431 in Toronto accommodation
- 2024-25: $3,081 in Toronto accommodation
- 2025-26: $11,691 in Toronto accommodation
Under expense rules in Ontario, MPPs who live more than 50 kilometres away from Queen’s Park are allowed to bill taxpayers for a residence in or around Toronto, allowing them to be closer to the legislature, where the bulk of a politician’s work is conducted.
MPPs who live within that 50-kilometre boundary, however, are only allowed to claim accommodation costs for “special or unusual circumstances,” according to the legislature expense guidelines, and only “on an overnight basis.”
Critics, though, are asking why Cho needed to stay in a hotel at all.
While his riding is roughly a 30-minute drive away from the Ontario legislature, publicly accessible property records show Cho’s primary residence is exactly 5.9 km — or seven subway stops — away from Queen’s Park.
As a cabinet minister, Cho also has access to a government-assigned vehicle, which is generally driven by a member of staff.
“It’s outrageous,” Stiles said. “You can get from Willowdale to Queens Park without even changing the subway train, so I don’t see any reason why a minister would have to have a hotel downtown as many times as Minister Cho has had.”
Cho’s hotel expenses come in the wake of Premier Doug Ford’s controversial decision to purchase a $28.9 million private jet for his government-related travel.
Although Ford later sold the plane to Bombardier after a wave of public backlash, critics said the Progressive Conservative Party had strayed away from its ‘respect for taxpayer’ roots.
Global News asked the Premier’s office whether Cho’s hotel expenses are “reasonable and justifiable to taxpayers” but did not receive a response.
Did his spouse know about this hotel rooms?
Conservatives stealing from Canadians, what’s new. Nice to see us paying for his escorts.
where else is he supposed to see his private ‘assistant’?
And don’t forget that the bulk of their work isn’t in Toronto with such an extended leave this spring and summer and only a short sitting in the fall. Hotel Costs? Plane Costs? Insider deals? Ford’s government is a travesty!
Why no criminal charges ? Person of Favour ? Lucky I’m not his boss, I’d throw the book at him. Doesn’t say much for Ford does it ?
Steven Cho should be charged with misuse of taxpayers funds. Also he should be removed of the ministry as well !!
Monica Cirello and Stan have been together for years. Everyone knows this
Monica C….
Check out Toronto school board trustees doing the same thing!
He has to wait for his girlfriend to cough up half the money.
Need to investigate them all. One by one, you’ll start seeing them paying back, but only if they are exposed!
Side piece?
It seems to me, The Doug Ford governments slogan should be ” Better to ask forgiveness than permission”
It’s no wonder that Ontarians pay the highest taxes of ANY Canadian province. We have thieves masquerading as politicians!
Carney spends $50k for inflight catering for each flight segment. How is spending this amount of money accepted or justified.
I recall Trudeau used to spend up to $7k per night on opulent hotel rooms.
Continual corruption in Ford government. I cant wait for election.
Great. Pay it back.
How about Global cover all the travel that Carney does, trying to secure trade deals that just 3 years ago he advised Trudeau not to agree to, saying at the time that “there was no business case” to sell LNG to Germany and Japan.
Escorts, obviously he’s seeing escorts.
All this money should be paid back. It’s about time Ford got control of his MPs. The scandals keep coming
There is no corruption in the West, but there is legal corruption, which is legal but not compliant. Western law is just like this; it merely deceives taxpayers. Politicians make laws to avoid their own risks, laws protect refugees and bad people, but laws severely punish law-abiding citizens. This is the current situation.
Politicians, as soon as they come to power, start to openly engage in corruption, but taxpayers are powerless. Everything is in line with the law. China still has anti-corruption efforts, cracking down on and combating corruption, while the West does not. Therefore, in the end, it is clear who will win. It’s just about numbing oneself and forgiving oneself
Annoying PP
July 14, 2026 at 7:23 am
How is this news? Another Conservative screwing over the tax payer, that’s their mission statement.
Thats funny. I can see only one party screwing this country for the last 11 years or so. Thats the Liberals. Nothing but the Liberals. TRUDEAU AND NOW CARNEY! The world sees it, most of Canada sees it, but some ignorant blind f*scist Liberals are blind and braindead.
Pay it ALL back, Cho!
How many more are doing it? Will he get fired for stealing? fraud?
Why not able to comment on the Inky Mark (x Manitoba MP) for his 12 charges on selling illegal guns?…
This is where he meets his special services with women. Paid for by taxpayers
@Dave: Phuck off with that infantile but, but horzezhit. Grow up.
Fordfest on your dime.
Any idea if anyone is staying with him on the taxpayer dime?
He’s a Conservative working for Doug Ford, NOT Ontario, so no real surprise there.
When the LPC can get away with this type of behaviour for a decade and a half it shouldn’t be a surprise when provinces start behaving the same
Time to start holding all politicians accountable for their actions.
This sounds like a classic fraud case
It must cover the cost of family visits from China?
If only Global would do the same “investigation” on all governments.
Imagine if they put the same ” news hound” mentality toward our federal government.
But no, they only go after the parties they’re not paid by….
How is this news? Another Conservative screwing over the tax payer, that’s their mission statement.
The hotel room is probably for his mistress…