'Roll a couple heads:' Ford Nation insider on l'affaire hotel

Mark Towhey dishes

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STAYCATION NATION

The Ford government is in damage control mode after revelations that his PC MPPs in the GTA have charged taxpayers more than $100K for Toronto hotel stays over the years despite living within the 50km of the Legislature — something that’s only allowed under “special circumstances.”

Government House Leader STEVE CLARK wrote to Speaker DONNA SKELLY a day after word broke that Tourism Minister STAN CHO (Willowdale) expensed more than $16,000 for overnight stays, despite living six kilometres from Queen’s Park (he’s promised to pay it all back).

Clark plans to move a motion at the all-party Board of Internal Economy to scrap the rule that allows GTA MPPs to book an overnight stay if, for instance, there’s a snowstorm or a midnight sitting — something only PCs have used. He’s asking the NDP and Liberals to support it.

But Oppo critics weren’t sated. NDP Leader MARIT STILES said she supports the move, but it wasn’t the policy that was the …