Ford won’t say if former minister Stan Cho will remain in PC caucus

Ontario Premier Doug Ford wouldn’t say on Monday, if the former cabinet minister Stan Cho, who racked up $16,000 in charges, will remain a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus, calling it “unacceptable” and apologizing.

This, as more questionable spending by the former minister is revealed.

The premier says Cho, the MPP of Willowdale in Toronto, has paid back the tens of thousands of dollars he spent on hotels next to the legislature.

But this comes as Cho is facing new allegations of dining out on donations and the public dime.

“Stan stepped down, and he did the right thing, and he’s paid everything back,” said Ford. “And I apologize for it even happening in the first place.”

Premier Doug Ford offered tax-payers an apology, after one of his ministers was caught spending $16,000 on downtown Toronto hotel rooms, all while living 6 kilometres away.

WATCH MORE: Ontario MPP Stan Cho resigns after Toronto hotel stay scandal

Cho stepped down from his position as the Minister of Tourism Culture and Gaming last week, calling the charges made over the past three years “a mistake,” but said he will continue to represent his Toronto-area riding.

Ford avoided answering Monday if Cho will remain a member of his party.

“It’s unacceptable on spending taxpayer’s money,” said Ford. “He’s no longer a minister, but Stan has paid every penny back, as everyone will, to the taxpayers.”

This comes after new reporting today says the legislator also racked up a bill with his “riding association.”

Global News reports that Cho spent nearly $85,000 over three years on upscale restaurants, flights and more hotel rooms all over the country, including at least $6,576 on rooms in Niagara Falls.

That includes more than $10,000 at the Rogers Centre for Toronto Blue Jays games.

WATCH MORE: Ontario to cut rule that allowed Conservative MPPs to expense Toronto hotel stays

Riding associations are funded by donations, and they receive a publicly-funded per-vote subsidy from Elections Ontario.

The opposition says they’re not surprised.

“The reality is that this premier, Premier Ford, sets the tone for his caucus and his dismissive apologies will not cut it,” said Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

“There’s a pattern of abuse and a culture of entitlement in this government, but you know when the boss, Doug Ford, buys a luxury private jet, the caucus looks at that and that’s the example that they follow,” said the Interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser.

MPPs were able to book hotels on taxpayer dollars through a provision that allows lawmakers to stay in the city following late night government sessions, or emergencies like snow storms.

Ford says following these revelations, he’s looking to get rid of that rule.

Cho’s office did not respond to a CHCH News request for a comment.

WATCH MORE: Ministers Cho, Lumsden leaving Ford’s cabinet amid hotel controversy