Emails show premier’s office knew Rod Phillips’ intention to travel
Posted April 30, 2021 8:33 am.
Last Updated April 30, 2021 1:04 pm.
More than a week before former Finance Minister Rod Phillips would leave for a luxury vacation in St. Barts, the premier’s top staffers were reportedly aware that he would be away.
In emails provided by the Ontario Liberals, Phillip’s former chief of staff informed the premier’s office twice that his boss would be away for weeks at a time. In the email regarding the December holiday, the staff suggested Phillips would tell Doug Ford directly.
The emails suggest Ford’s staffers were aware that Phillips would not be in Toronto or available in person for over a month from December into January.
In an email sent on December 4 from Phillip’s chief of staff to the premier’s office:
“Just wanted to flag that Minister Phillips will not be in Toronto and not available in person between the dates of December 12th and January 19th.
He will be completely available via teleconference, teams, zoom, etc and will still be attending cabinet meeting virtually. I think he will let the Premier know directly as well.”
Premier Ford has said he knew Phillips was out of the country two weeks before his St. Barts trip became public, but has also said no one was aware of the trip before Phillips left.
Ford was asked about the emails during his press conference on Friday and reiterated no one told him Phillips had planned on leaving the country or travelling.
“The first time I found out is when I talked to him and I said back then I regret not telling Jim to come back home,” said Ford. “With Rod, he made a mistake, he apologized, he stepped up and he’s no longer in cabinet as a result of that mistake … He admitted the mistake and he paid the price.”
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When Phillips took off for his Caribbean vacation on Dec. 13, he touched off a political storm that engulfed him when he returned to Canada.
Phillips resigned as the province’s finance minister on Dec. 31, hours after returning from cut short two-week trip to St. Barts.
He remained as an MP and called the decision a “significant error in judgement.”
His apology did little to assuage criticism against Premier Doug Ford for not taking action when he first learned of the cabinet minister’s travels shortly after Phillips left for warmer climates.
