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Ontario Premier Doug Ford has repeatedly insisted that politicians who improperly bill taxpayers should repay every penny. Now, newly reviewed expense records show the premier himself charged more than $44,000 in travel-related expenses to Ontario taxpayers during his time in office, despite recently claiming he has a "zero expense account." 

During a July 20 news conference, Ford declared, "I have zero expenses," while responding to mounting criticism over hotel expense claims filed by members of his caucus. The controversy erupted after several Toronto-area Progressive Conservative MPPs billed taxpayers for hotel stays despite living within commuting distance of Queen's Park.

Ford called those claims "totally unacceptable" and ordered the money repaid. 

However, an analysis of publicly disclosed expense records by CityNews found Ford filed 90 expense claims between July 2018 and February 2022, totalling more than $44,000. The claims included approximately $26,178 for airfare, $17,752 for accommodations and $445 for meals. 

Ford's office defended the expenses, saying they were legitimate work-related travel costs that were independently approved under the province's cabinet expense rules. 

The disclosure comes as the Ford government continues to face scrutiny over spending by cabinet ministers.

Tourism Minister Stan Cho has already agreed to reimburse taxpayers after billing more than $16,000 for hotel stays in Toronto, prompting Ford to say taxpayers deserved their money back. 

Investigations revealed that 20 PC MPPs combined to bill taxpayers over $120,000 for Toronto hotel rooms, frequently using the allowance during routine spring and fall legislative sessions.

Media reports later exposed that internal government emails had actively advised MPPs they could use this loophole to stay over during late-night sittings.