Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips arrived home from his ill-considered Caribbean vacation Thursday morning, once again apologizing for his "dumb decision" to travel outside of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I wanted to take this opportunity to unreservedly apologize for my decision to travel over the holidays... I've disappointed no one more than myself."
"It was a significant error in judgment. A dumb, dumb mistake, I apologize for it, I regret it," Philips said at Pearson airport Thursday morning.
Phillips said that there was still a lot of work to be done in the province, and that he hopes to regain the public's trust in moving forward. He says that any decision on whether or not he will be fired will be up to the premier, and that he has not talked to Ford on the matter yet.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Wednesday that he and Finance Minister Rod Phillips would have a "very tough conversation" on whether or not he would remain at his position.
Phillips also clarified that the pre-recorded videos published to his Twitter and other social media on Christmas Eve were not recorded with the intent of misleading the public.
"Many politicians use that pre-program. On Christmas Eve, they don't all tape their Christmas Eve greetings. They taped them before, that's what I did."
Yesterday, Ford said that he was "upset and frustrated" by the minister's decision to leave the country. Ford added that the trip was "unacceptable," and that he and the minister would have a "tough conversation" on his arrival.
The premier's office said on Tuesday that Ford was not aware of the minister's trip, and had learned of Phillips' trip after he had departed. On Tuesday, Ford said.
On Wednesday, Ford clarified that he did it fact know of Phillips' travels. "I did call him shortly after he arrived and I asked him and he said he was away."
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