Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Thursday that cabinet ministers who billed taxpayers for Toronto hotel stays while living in the city must repay the funds [1].

The move comes as the provincial government faces scrutiny over the use of public money for luxury accommodations by officials who reside within commuting distance of the capital. The controversy highlights potential loopholes in the government's expense rules and raises questions about fiscal accountability among high-ranking officials.

Ford said it is unacceptable that some of his cabinet ministers have been billing taxpayers for hotel stays in Toronto while they live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) [2]. He pledged to change the existing expense rules to prevent the practice from continuing.

"We will pay back every single penny," Ford said [3].

Among those affected is Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho. Records indicate Cho charged the Legislative Assembly $16,203 [4] for hotel stays. Other reports describe the amount as more than $16,000 [5].

Cho said he will reimburse the full amount of the hotel expenses that were charged to the public [6]. While some initial reports indicated Cho's office suggested only partial repayment, later reports confirmed he agreed to pay the full sum [7].

Ford's directive applies to all Toronto-area ministers who utilized the accommodation claims despite their residency in the GTA [1]. The premier said the practice was a violation of the spirit of public service, and the government would move quickly to tighten oversight on how ministers claim travel and lodging costs [2].

“"We will pay back every single penny."”

This directive signals a shift toward stricter fiscal discipline within the Ontario cabinet to avoid political fallout over perceived government waste. By forcing full repayments and updating expense rules, the Ford administration is attempting to close a loophole that allowed local officials to treat the city as a travel destination, thereby mitigating public criticism regarding the ethics of taxpayer-funded luxury stays.