Doug Ford calls ministers’ Toronto hotel expense claims ‘totally unacceptable,’ orders repayment

Premier Ford says MPPs choosing to stay in hotels when they live close to Queen’s Park is ‘unacceptable’ after recent public backlash.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says members of his government who billed taxpayers for Toronto hotel stays despite living in and around the GTA will pay back “every single penny,” adding that the expenses are “totally unacceptable.”

The comments are Ford’s first remarks since expense records this week showed several Progressive Conservative MPPs billed taxpayers thousands of dollars for hotel stays under a legislative rule allowing reimbursements in “special circumstances.”

This week, the government announced they will move to axe the policy.

“Well, as my colleagues know, unacceptable. Believe it or not, totally unacceptable,” Ford said Thursday in Windsor, Ont.

“And I told them, ‘You’re paying back every single penny.’ That’s not the way. Simple as that.”

Who spent the most?

The controversy erupted after Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho came under fire for claiming more than $16,000 in Toronto hotel expenses since 2023 despite representing the north Toronto riding of Willowdale.

In fact, records which have since been made public, show he’s not alone.

In addition to Cho, Brampton East MPP Hardeep Grewal billed more than $27,000 in Toronto hotel expenses since 2023. Associate Small Business Minister Nina Tangri, who represents Mississauga-Streetsville, claimed nearly $19,000, while Associate Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity Minister Charmaine Williams, the MPP for Brampton Centre, billed more than $15,000.

All four recorded their highest claims during the fiscal year that ended in March.

Cho, for his part, has already pledged to reimburse the full amount.

Government House Leader Steve Clark has also written to the Speaker requesting the elimination of the rule that allows MPPs living within 50 kilometres of Queen’s Park to claim Toronto hotel expenses in extenuating circumstances. MPPs who live more than 50 kilometres from Queen’s Park are entitled to bill taxpayers for the cost of accommodations.

Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Ford said that he was so upset when he spoke to caucus about the expenses that he had to be pulled “off the roof.”

“Not to get into details, as my two colleagues will tell you, when I talked to caucus, he literally had to pull me off the roof,” he said.

Opposition demands answers

Meanwhile, NDP Leader Marit Stiles said this week that the issue goes beyond the policy itself, adding that it should only be used for extenuating circumstances.

“The policy was for extenuating circumstances… emergencies like a snowstorm,” she said. “He can change the policy all he wants, but it’s not going to change the fact that these members… chose to abuse it.”

Liberal finance critic Stephanie Bowman also said her party supports ending the rule but is also calling for all of the claims to be repaid and independently reviewed, arguing the policy was too vague and “rife for abuse.”

With files from the Canadian Press...