Doug Ford Has Told His Holidaying Finance Minister To Return To The Country 'Immediately'

Rod Phillips left Canada on vacation in early December.
Doug Ford Has Told Minister Rob Phillips To Return To The Country 'Immediately'
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Staff Writer

Ontario's Finance Minister Rod Phillips is under fire from the premier after news broke that the minister was on vacation despite the province telling people to avoid travel.

In a statement released on Tuesday night, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was "extremely disappointed" in Phillips.

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I have also told the minister I need him back in the country immediately. Doug Ford

"I have let the minister know that his decision to travel is completely unacceptable and that it will not be tolerated again," Ford wrote, "by him or any member of our cabinet and caucus."

Earlier on Tuesday, news broke that Ontario's Finance Minister Rod Phillips had left on holiday with his wife in early December.

At that time, Premier Ford was actively telling people to stay home and avoid non-essential travel.

"Had I been aware then of the eventual December 26th Province-wide shutdown, we would have cancelled the trip," said Minister Phillips in a statement.

He confirmed that he would be out of the country as of Tuesday, but it looks like his trip might be cut short.

"The only way we will beat COVID-19 is by following the advice provided by our public health experts. Public officials are no exception," wrote Doug Ford.

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  • Cormac O'Brien
    Cormac O'Brien was an Associate Editor at Narcity Canada, covering all things exciting and trending about Canada. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Journalism from the University of Victoria, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the campus newspaper and was awarded the BCYNA Community News Scholarship for his writing. He was also the producer and co-host of Now On Narcity, Narcity's flagship podcast.

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