Minister enjoys sunny break
Provincial Finance Minister Rod Phillips appears to be following the adage “Do as I say, not as I do” on his shocking recent vacation outside the country.
On Tuesday night, Phillips confessed he went on vacation to the pricey Caribbean island of St. Barts, the swish winter playground for the rich and famous.
While the trip is not illegal, it's an optical trainwreck as the Ford government fights a life-and-death struggle trying to get Ontarians to follow COVID-19 pandemic protocols.
Rumours Phillips had fled for some fun and sun began circulating several weeks ago.
The Toronto Sun starting asking questions last week after hearing rumours that Phillips was staying in
St. Lucia at a luxury resort.
Onmonday, Phillips' office said the minister denied ever being in St. Lucia andwould not reveal where he went. Then last night Phillips admitted he was in St. Barts.
“I deeply regret travelling over the holidays. It was a mistake and I apologize,” Phillips said in a statement. “I left on a personally paid for trip to St. Barts on Dec. 13 following the end of the legislative session. “I am making arrangements to return to Ontario immediately and will begin a 14-day quarantine as soon as I arrive.”
Premier Doug Ford expressed dismay over his finance minister's decision to disobey decrees by public health officials.
“At a time when every Ontarian has been asked to make sacrifices, I am extremely disappointed in Minister Phillips and his decision to travel abroad,” he said in a statement Tuesday night. “I have let the minister know that his decision to travel is completely unacceptable and that it will not be tolerated again — by him or any member of our cabinet and caucus. I have also told the minister I need him back in the country immediately.”
Phillips, meanwhile, issued a statement earlier Tuesday which contained no specifics about where he went on vacation.
“Immediately following the end of the legislative session, which occurred on Dec. 8, my wife and I departed on a previously planned personal trip outside of the country,” Phillips said. “Had I been aware then of the eventual Dec. 26 province-wide shutdown, we would have cancelled the trip.”
He added: “I have continued my work daily as the minister of finance and MPP for Ajax including dozens of digital ministry, constituency and cabinet committee calls and meetings. We will continue to observe public health directives, including the 14-day quarantine.”
Phillips is the former chairman of the board of Postmedia.
Photos were posted Dec. 15 of Phillips' PC caucus colleagues at an event in Oshawa but the photo was taken Dec. 11.
Ford recently let loose with harsh words for travellers and threatened to implement mandatory testing at Pearson International Airport in an effort to halt the NEWCOVID19 strain coming into the country from the U.K., where it apparently originated.
On Dec. 21, Ford told reporters he was “extremely alarmed” by reports of a new strain of COVID-19.
“We need to ensure that our border is secure. We need to be certain that we are catching cases of COVID before they have a chance of spreading in our communities,” the premier said at the time.