Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford admitted on Wednesday that he has known for two weeks now that his Treasury Secretary Rod Phillips has traveled to the Caribbean for the holidays, despite a coronavirus blockage. While at St. Barts, Phillips shared a Christmas Eve video message of himself by a crackling fire with a gingerbread house by his side. The video appeared to show Phillips in a place that was definitely not the Caribbean, leading some to suggest that he strategically posted the photo to throw the public off his track and hide where he really was.
On Tuesday, Ford ordered Phillips to return home immediately. But he has since admitted to being aware of Phillips’ travels two weeks ago, well before the story of his trip became public knowledge Tuesday. Ford, who called the trip to St. Barts “completely unacceptable”, said he will have a “difficult conversation” with Phillips upon his return, although Phillips will have to be quarantined for 14 days. “I deeply regret traveling while on vacation,” Ford said in a statement. “It was a mistake and I apologize.” Some of Phillips’s colleagues have called for the legislature to be fired over the incident.
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