Ontario finance minister blasted for taking trip
Provincial Finance Minister Rod Phillips appears to be following the adage “do as I say, not as I do” on his recent vacation outside the country.
While the trip is not illegal, it's an optics train wreck as the Ford government fights a life-and-death struggle trying to get Ontarians to follow COVID-19 pandemic protocols.
Rumours that Phillips had fled for some fun and sun began circulating several weeks ago.
The Toronto Sun first started asking questions last week after hearing rumours that Phillips was staying at a luxury resort in St. Lucia.
On Monday, Phillips' office said the minister denied ever being in St. Lucia but would not say where he was.
On Tuesday, the statement below was issued:
“Immediately following the end of the Legislative Session, which occurred on December 8th, 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 December 26th Province wide shutdown, we would have canceled 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.”
But his office remained tightlipped on the minister's whereabouts.
Sources told the Sun Phillips went south to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia in mid-month.
On the island, Phillips was alleged to have stayed at the Sugar Beach Resort.
The cost of a room at the lux resort is listed as being from $1,700 to $6,500 per night.
However, his office was less than forthcoming when questioned on numerous occasions by the Sun over the previous week.
They would not confirm where the Ajax MPP had travelled to, when he left the country, when he returned or the purpose of his visit. And they're still stonewalling.
Phillips is the former chairman of the board of Postmedia (owners of The Toronto Sun and Windsor Star).
Photos were posted on Dec. 15 of Phillips' PC caucus colleagues at an event in Oshawa but the photo was taken Dec. 11.
His boss, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, had recently let loose with harsh words for travellers and threatened to implement mandatory testing at Pearson International Airport in an effort to halt the new COVID-19 strain coming into the country from the United Kingdom where it apparently originated.
Ford's office declined to comment on the hypocrisy eruption.
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.
While most Canadians appear to be taking the governments' advice by staying home and avoiding air travel, it seems the finance minister may have decided to flout the rules.