Donors to the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party have quietly funded thousands of dollars in Stan Cho expenses, including steakhouse dinners, flights, luxury hotel stays and even a limousine rental. The Willowdale MPP, who recently resigned as a senior minister in Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet, is now facing fresh scrutiny over how his riding association spent donor and taxpayer-linked funds between 2023 and 2026.

The new disclosures come just days after Cho repaid the Ontario Legislature more than $16,000 in hotel expenses he had billed to taxpayers over three years. However, the riding association records reveal an even broader pattern of spending that stretches far beyond hotel bills.

Cho lives only six kilometres from Queen’s Park. Despite this, he claimed many of his hotel stays under a “special circumstance” designation. As a result, questions are now being raised about whether his donor-funded lifestyle crossed ethical lines.

“Looking back now, I made a mistake. I am taking full responsibility,” Cho said in a statement. “I did not stop to ask how it would look to a person in my riding working a double shift.”

Meals and Restaurant Bills Add Up

Over three years, Cho submitted nearly $100,000 in food and beverage expenses to his riding association. These funds came from donor cash and Elections Ontario subsidies, which are ultimately linked to public money.

Many of these meals took place outside the Willowdale riding. For instance, receipts show charges from upscale Toronto restaurants such as Sotto Sotto in Yorkville, Barberian’s Steak House and the ONE Restaurant inside the Hazelton Hotel.

At Sher-E-Punjab on Danforth Avenue alone, Cho expensed more than $16,500 over three years, claiming the visits were for hosted meetings. Meanwhile, another $10,500 went toward meals at Nome Izakaya, a Japanese tapas bar in Toronto.

In addition, Cho spent more than $9,000 at the members-only Albany Club and $1,621 at various steakhouses. Other notable charges include $6,055.12 at Moxies, $2,724.11 at Mapo Korean and $2,050.96 at The Keg. Dozens of these meals fell within the $200 to $300 range, suggesting only a small number of diners attended.

Ontario Liberal MPP Adil Shamji did not hold back when discussing the pattern. “What you see when you look at the riding association expenses is a whole bunch of expenses that seem to be used to support a lavish lifestyle by Stan Cho,” he told Global News.

Flights, Hotels and a Limo Rental

Beyond meals, Cho’s travel expenses also raise questions. Between 2023 and 2025, he billed the constituency more than $6,100 for airfare on Porter Airlines and Air Canada. Furthermore, $12,700 in hotel expenses reveal where the MPP travelled during this period.

Cho stayed at upscale properties including the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, the Fairmont Palliser in Calgary and the Rimrock resort hotel in Banff. Similarly, he expensed $318.66 for a stay at the Clock Tower Inn in Strathroy, a small town roughly three hours from his riding.

Perhaps most notably, Cho billed the riding $1,500 in 2025 to rent a vehicle from Top Limo, a company that specializes in luxury SUVs and stretch limousines. Consequently, this single expense has become a focal point in the broader controversy.

“There are all sorts of peculiarities that seem to suggest that many of these expenses didn’t serve the purpose of representing his constituents,” Shamji said. “And instead served the purpose of allowing him to enjoy a lavish lifestyle.”

Entertainment and Sports Event Charges

Cho also billed the riding association for entertainment. Records show more than $13,388 spent over four years attending sporting events, with much of the money going toward the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

In 2022, Cho expensed $1,138 for food during a Toronto Blue Jays game, partly during the provincial election campaign. By 2024, that figure climbed sharply to $6,970.67 for another Blue Jays game, which Cho again described as a hosted meeting.

During the 2025 snap election, Cho charged the riding $3,000 for a suite rental at the Rogers Centre, along with additional food and beverage costs. It remains unclear what specific event required the suite during that period.

Additionally, disclosures show more than $1,600 in charges tied to the Scotiabank Arena and Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment. Because all these expenses were certified by the riding’s Chief Financial Officer, they were formally submitted to Elections Ontario’s compliance division.

What Happens Next

Global News reached out to Cho’s constituency office, the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party and the premier’s office for comment. However, none of them responded to questions about whether the necessity of these expenses could be justified.

Similarly, the PC Party did not respond when asked whether donors are informed that their contributions might cover MPP meals, travel and entertainment costs. Therefore, the full picture of how party funds are allocated to sitting MPPs remains unclear.

For now, Cho’s resignation from cabinet marks only the first consequence of the spending scandal. As scrutiny continues, more details about the Stan Cho expenses and broader riding association practices may still emerge.