The World Forum - March 27th, 2024

 

Ontario’s finance minister out of the country on ‘personal trip’ despite pleas to stay home

Ontario’s Finance Minister Rod Phillips is currently out of the country for a personal trip, despite the province urging residents to stay home due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in Ontario and across the world. 


Ontario’s Finance Minister Rod Phillips is currently out of the country for a personal trip, despite the province urging residents to stay home due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in Ontario and across the world.

In a statement released Tuesday, Phillips noted that he and his wife left Dec. 13, after the end of the legislative session, on a “previously planned trip outside of the country.”


“Had I been aware then of the eventual Dec. 26th province-wide shutdown, we would have canceled the trip,” the statement said.


On Dec. 21, Premier Doug Ford announced that a four-week lockdown would sweep across the province starting Boxing Day.

Phillips has not made it clear where he travelled to, or when he will be back, but noted that he was able to continue his work as minister of finance and MPP for Ajax remotely.

There are currently no provincial travel restrictions in Ontario, but federal travel restrictions require anyone travelling into Canada to quarantine for two weeks once back in the country.


“We will continue to observe public health directives, including the 14 day quarantine,” he finished.


Although not technically breaking any restrictions, government officials have been pleading with Ontarians to stay home in order to prevent the spread of the virus. During a press conference Nov. 25, Ford urged Ontarians to stick within their own households for the holidays.


On Christmas Eve, Phillips tweeted about many people making sacrifices over the holiday season, especially front-line workers who may be dealing with the effects of the pandemic.


https://globalnews.ca/news/7545744/ontario-finance-minister-rod-phillips-country-personal-trip/

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