Premier Ford Condemns Overpriced Toronto Hotel Stays by Cabinet Ministers
Premier Doug Ford expressed his disapproval towards Toronto-area cabinet ministers billing taxpayers for excessive hotel stays in the city, calling it “unacceptable.” The premier’s stance gained attention after government house leader Steve Clark announced plans to scrap the rule allowing members living within 50 kilometers of Queen’s Park to expense Toronto hotel stays in exceptional circumstances.
Ford made his strong stance clear at a news conference in Windsor, stating, “That’s not the way we operate. I’ve told them you’re paying back every single penny.” The reported expenses, flagged by Global News, sparked criticism from opposition parties, labeling it as a misuse of public funds.
Among those criticized, Tourism Minister Stan Cho, representing Willowdale, had billed over $16,000, while Hardeep Grewal from Brampton East had over $27,000 in expenses, and Nina Tangri from Mississauga-Streetsville had nearly $19,000. Charmaine Williams, from Brampton Centre, expensed over $15,000.
In response, Ford’s office assured that any expenses not aligned with the rules would be fully reimbursed to the legislature. This move aims to uphold accountability and transparency within the government.
Keyphrase: Toronto cabinet expenses