Rod Phillips Resigns as Ontario's Finance Minister

Rod Phillips, Ontario Finance Minister, presents the 2020 First Quarter Financial Update in August.

Rod Phillips has resigned as Ontario's Finance Minister due to the controversy surrounding his trip to St. Barts.

Phillips was widely criticized after he and his wife left Canada for a personal Caribbean vacation in St. Barts when the country has restricted all non-essential travel across their border.

In addition to leaving the country, Phillips took steps to leave the impression that he was in his riding during his absence from the country.

Premier Doug Ford told him that "it will not be tolerated again", and told him to return home.

Ford had previously said he was unaware that his finance minister had left the country but backtracked 24 hours later admitting he did know Phillips was not in the country, knew his destination and failed to issue a call for his return.

His office confirmed that Phillips had also secretly vacationed in Switzerland in August, 2020 and stated that he has quarantined for 14 days upon his return.

Those on social media were quick to call out Phillips. For a time on Tuesday, the hashtag #resign was trending in Canada.

Phillips was sworn in as Ontario's Minister of Finance on June 20, 2019.

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