Tourism Minister Stan Cho quits cabinet over Toronto hotel expense claims

Cho stepped down the morning after Ford said such spending was “totally unacceptable” for an MPP who lives just six kilometres from Queen’s Park.

“Earlier today, I accepted the resignation of Stan Cho from cabinet, effective immediately. He has acknowledged and taken responsibility for his mistake. He will continue to serve the people of Willowdale as their Member of Provincial Parliament,” the premier said in a statement.

Ford has also ordered all his ministers and MPPs who represent Greater Toronto Area ridings to reimburse taxpayers for their more than $120,000 in hotel expense claims over the past three years.

“Every single person is going to repay every single penny,” he said at the province’s emergency management headquarters in North York during a news conference on the Northern Ontario forest fires.

“I’ve made it clear to our entire caucus it’s unacceptable and we just aren’t going to tolerate it.”

Ford’s office said Attorney General Doug Downey would do the ex-minister’s duties on a temporary basis.

In a letter to Ford, Cho, the lone Toronto MPP to claim such hefty expenses, acknowledged he “made a mistake” and that the imbroglio was a “distraction” for the third-term Tory government.

“I claimed accommodation in the city on the nights the legislature sat late. I have reviewed every one of those claims and am satisfied they met the criteria set out in the members’ guide,” wrote the former minister.

“Looking back now, I made a mistake. I am taking full responsibility, as I do not want to be a distraction from our plan to grow the economy, keep families safe, and build this province,” Cho continued.

“I have a young family at home and a schedule that too often kept me from them,” said the married father of a toddler.

“On late nights I made a choice that was easier for me. I did not stop to ask how it would look to a person in my riding working a double shift. I have therefore personally repaid those expenses in full, to the penny.”

Because provincial cabinet ministers earn $240,975 after their annual bump in April — compared with $163,275 for backbenchers — Cho will be out $77,700 in reduced pay.

The hotel claims are allowable under the “special circumstances” rule that enables MPPs who live within 50 km of Queen’s Park to book downtown stays in inclement weather, or for legislative night sittings. MPPs who represent ridings more than 50 km away have accommodation allowances.

But the revelations have been so embarrassing to Ford’s Tories that Government House leader Steve Clark has asked the all-party committee overseeing the legislature to eliminate the expense perquisite.

The New Democratic and Liberal members of the Board of Internal Economy back that move, but note only PC MPPs have been making claims for hotels.

Interim Liberal leader John Fraser said Friday that Cho’s departure was “just the tip of the iceberg.”

“There’s more to the story than just Stan Cho’s hotel rooms. There are more ministers and members, and there are more scandals,” said Fraser.

“The sense of entitlement starts at the top with the premier buying himself a luxury private jet, and it just trickles on down,” he said, referring to Ford’s purchase and panicked sale of a $28.9 million Bombardier Challenger 650 in April amid public outcry.

“Doug Ford needs to show us the receipts: who was where, when, and why. The public deserves to know.”

NDP Leader Marit Stiles pointed out 20 current and former local Tory ministers and MPPs expensed $121,409 for Toronto accommodation over the past three years and Cho was “not even the worst offender.”

“MPP Hardeep Grewal spent nearly $30,000, Nina Tangri and Charmaine Williams also billed the taxpayer tens of thousands of dollars. Do they still have the premier’s confidence?” she said, referring to three Peel Tory MPPs.

Grewal (Brampton East) spent $27,275 on downtown hotels from 2023 to 2025. Tangri, the associate small business minister and Mississauga-Streetsville MPP, billed $18,976 while Williams, the associate women’s minister and Brampton Centre MPP claimed $15,865.

“Ford’s MPPs were caught with their hands in the taxpayer’s pockets, and it’s time for some real answers,” said Stiles.

Also Friday, Ford said Sport Minister Neil Lumsden, 73, would be retiring from cabinet and as MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek as of Aug. 4.

“Neil has been a dedicated public servant with a storied career during his time in the CFL … in particular, I want to thank Neil for his work supporting Toronto’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup,” he said.

Lumsden’s timing suggests Ford could call byelections on Aug. 5 in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, Scarborough Southwest and York-Simcoe for Sept. 3.