# Ontario political ethics and approval controversies > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ontario-political-ethics-and-approval-controversies > Updated: 2026-08-13T18:16:11.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has faced significant political challenges involving ethics and party conduct. In July 2026, polling indicated Ford’s approval rating had fallen to a historic low of 24%, driven largely by a scandal involving taxpayer-funded hotel expenses. This controversy included the resignation of former tourism minister Stan Cho and revelations that several MPPs claimed thousands for hotel stays despite living near the legislature. By August 2026, further scrutiny emerged regarding the Progressive Conservative party’s tactics. Reports indicated the party spent approximately $3,000 on Jamaican resorts to conduct opposition research on Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie while she was on vacation. While Ford stated he does not condone the tactic and noted that “things happen,” opposition members characterized the incident as a “disturbing privacy violation” and a form of spying. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-13: Doug Ford distances himself from PC party research on Bonnie Crombie Ontario Premier Doug Ford distanced himself from Progressive Conservative party research that involved sending someone to a Jamaican resort to monitor Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie during a vacation. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/doug-ford-distances-himself-from-pc-party-research-on-bonnie-crombie ### 2026-07-24: Ontario Premier Doug Ford's Approval Falls to 24% Amid Hotel Expense Scandal Ontario Premier Doug Ford's approval drops to 24% as a new poll shows his PCs trailing the Liberals and a hotel‑expense scandal fuels public discontent. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ontario-premier-doug-fords-approval-falls-to-24-amid-hotel-expense-scandal --- Cite as: Ontario political ethics and approval controversies. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ontario-political-ethics-and-approval-controversies