Ontario Premier says he found out Phillips was travelling abroad roughly two weeks ago, and should have pushed for his immediate return

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he found out his finance minister was travelling abroad roughly two weeks ago, and should have pushed then for his immediate return.

Ford says Rod Phillips "never told anyone" he was going to St. Barts on December 13th, but the premier learned of the trip shortly after it began.

Opposition leader calls for Phillips removal from the cabinet

Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath is calling for Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips to be removed from cabinet.

Phillips revealed yesterday that he flew to St. Barts on the 13th of the month, not knowing a provincewide lockdown would begin on Boxing Day.

But Horwath says Phillips ignored his government's own public health guidelines, calling it "not believable" that a senior member of cabinet would leave the country for weeks at the height of a health crisis, without telling the premier.