Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford admitted on Wednesday that he has known for two weeks now that his finance minister, Rod Phillips, has traveled to the Caribbean for the holidays, despite the coronavirus blockade. While on St. Barts, Phillips shared a video message about him on Christmas Eve, by a roaring fire, with a gingerbread house next to him. The video seemed to show Phillips in a place that was definitely not the Caribbean, prompting some to suggest that he strategically posted the photo to throw the audience in his footsteps and hide where he really was.
On Tuesday, Ford ordered Phillips to return home immediately. But he has since admitted that he knew about Phillips’ travels two weeks ago, long before the story of his journey became known on Tuesday. Ford, who called the trip St. Barts was “completely unacceptable” and said he would have a “tough conversation” with Phillips on his return, although Phillips would be forced to quarantine for 14 days. “I’m sorry I traveled for the holidays,” Ford said in a statement. “It was a mistake and I apologize.” Some of Phillips’ colleagues demanded the dismissal of the legislator for the incident.
Read it at the Guardian