Stan Cho, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming has resigned amid criticism for expensing a total of $16,000 in Toronto hotel stays despite living in the city.
“Looking back now, I made a mistake,” Cho wrote in a statement. “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 Resigns Over Expenses
The Ontario regulated iGaming market launched in April 2022 and now has 47 licensed operators and 81 gaming websites, according to iGaming Ontario, making it one of the largest iGaming jurisdictions in North America.
Cho took the job in June 2024 after Ontario Premier Doug Ford shuffled his cabinet, succeeding Neil Lumsden, who had served as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
Gaming moved into Cho’s portfolio, while sport became a separate ministry.
Hotel Claims in Dispute
Cho said he claimed hotel stays on nights the legislature ran late but has now repaid all the money, “to the penny,” he added.
Cho said he plans to continue as a member of provincial parliament for Willowdale, a north Toronto riding.
Minister Repays Full Amount
“I have a young family at home and a schedule that too often kept me from them,” he said in the statement. “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.”
Several of Ford’s cabinet ministers had been found to be expensing hotels, using a so-called special circumstances rule on Toronto hotel expenses since 2023, Canadian Press reported.
“We have to be prudent fiscal managers,” said Ford. “Stan did the right thing, and he handed in his resignation as cabinet (minister), and it’s just unacceptable, and they’re paying back every single penny of it.”
Mark Keast
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