Ontario’s Finance Minister Rod Phillips has resigned from his role in cabinet over his secret vacation to the Caribbean Island of St. Barts as the Covid-19 pandemic was growing and leading to the Provincial lockdown.
The MPP for Ajax MPP left for the vacation on December 13th, a decision he later called a dumb mistake.
Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy has been named to take over the Minister of Finance.
He will be the Current Government’s third finance minister in 3 years.
Also at issue was social media posts during the time he was away including one where he appeared to be at home and thanked healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic.
The Premier has said that it is “unacceptable” for any public official to ignore the Province’s Covid-19 guidelines which urge residents to avoid non-essential travel.
Minister Phillips will now self-isolate until January 13th.
