Ford government plans to end Toronto hotel expense rule for local MPPs

Ontario's Progressive Conservative government says it plans to remove a rule that allowed some MPPs who live in and around Toronto to claim hotel stays in the city as expenses. The move comes after expense records showed several caucus members billed taxpayers for large hotel costs since 2023. Tourism Minister Stan Cho, who represents Willowdale, was among those questioned, with records showing more than $16,000 in Toronto hotel expenses. Other PC MPPs, including Hardeep Grewal, Nina Tangri and Charmaine Williams, also recorded significant claims. Government House Leader Steve Clark said he will ask to eliminate the rule for members living within 50 kilometres of Queen's Park, while Cho has said he will repay the public money he claimed. Opposition NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the policy was meant for exceptional situations, not regular use, and called on the members to reimburse the expenses and explain their claims.