Skip to Main content

18.45°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Dec 31, 2020 4:37 PM -

Ontario's finance minister Rod Phillips has resigned after going on a Caribbean vacation during the pandemic

Share On

rod-phillips-return-from-st-barts-will-discuss-his-political-future-with-ford

Ontario's finance minister has resigned from his cabinet position after going on a Caribbean vacation during the pandemic. (Photo - Rod Phillips/Twitter)

Ontario's finance minister has resigned from his cabinet position after going on a Caribbean vacation during the pandemic.

Premier Doug Ford says he has accepted Rod Phillips's resignation as minister.

Phillips returned to Ontario this morning after spending more than two weeks in St. Barts despite provincial guidelines urging people to avoid non-essential travel.

Ford says he has asked Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy to assume the role of minister of finance and deliver the government's 2021 budget.

Earlier today Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips had returned from his Caribbean vacation, which he took despite the province's COVID-19 guidelines urging residents to avoid non-essential travel.

Phillips had said he would like to remain in the provincial cabinet, but he will respect Premier Doug Ford's decision.

Rod Phillips arrived at Pearson International Airport this morning after vacationing in St. Barts.

Latest news

saskatchewan-apologizes-to-former-students-of-boarding-school

Saskatchewan apologizes to former students of boarding school

The Saskatchewan government is officially saying sorry to survivors and families for its role in the historical abuse and trauma that occurred at a boarding school for Metis and First Nations children. Premier Scott Moe says the province has also agreed to pay $40 million to former students of the Ile-a-la-Crosse Boarding School and their families. The school, northwest of Saskatoon, operated from the 1820s until it burned down in the 1970s. School survivors have said they were banned from speaking their language and were frequently beaten if they did, resulting in the loss of their

vancouver-whitecaps-and-vancouver-fc-face-off-in-the-canadian-championship-final

Vancouver Whitecaps and Vancouver FC face-off in the Canadian championship final

The Vancouver Whitecaps will face Vancouver FC in the TELUS Canadian Championship final, this Wednesday, October 1 at 7 p.m. at BC Place Stadium. The Vancouver Whitecaps team recently won the Cascadia Cup for the 8th time, setting a record. The Whitecaps will now be eyeing a fourth consecutive Canadian championship title. The Vancouver Whitecaps won the semi-finals against Forge FC by an aggregate score of 6-2 in the two matches and the team enters the final with strong momentum. Vancouver FC in a huddle during a match of Canadian championship. (Photo - Vancouver FC)However, Vancouver FC from

charger-fails-to-dodge-richmond-rcmp-for-second-time

Charger fails to dodge Richmond RCMP for second time

Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit impounds vehicle a second time as it fails to dodge police enforcement. On September 20, 2025, officers from the Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit (RSU) were conducting targeted enforcement in east Richmond when an RSU officer stopped a vehicle driving 99km/hr in a 50km/h zone. The vehicle was impounded for excessive speed, and the driver received a violation ticket in the amount of $368, plus the additional cost of towing, impound, and driver premium points. Of note, the officer recalled stopping the exact same vehicle almost exactly one year ago for speeding on Hw

jobs-minister-urges-canada-post-to-table-new-offer-to-striking-union

CanadaSep 29, 2025

Jobs minister urges Canada Post to table new offer to striking union

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu is urging Canada Post to quickly table an offer to the union of striking postal workers. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers took to the picket lines Thursday after Ottawa announced sweeping changes to the Crown corporation's operations to address its troubled financial situation. Those changes include ending daily mail delivery and moving almost all Canadian households to community mailboxes, moves the union calls a direct attack on workers. In an interview today, Hajdu did not rule out federal intervention to end the latest strike but also said Canada Post needs to

One man dead and one injured in serious crash

Police are investigating after a two-vehicle collision claimed the life of one driver and seriously injured another Saturday afternoon. On September 27, 2025 at 1:30 p.m., the Oceanside RCMP received a report of a serious two-vehicle crash on Highway 4 near Cameron Lake. An eastbound Honda Civic appeared to have lost control on a series of curves where it impacted with a westbound Chevy Impala. The Civic subsequently became engulfed in flames and the sole occupant died at the scene. The driver of the Impala, a 70-year-old Alberta man, was extricated and taken to hospital with serious, potentia

Related News

Vancouver Whitecaps and Vancouver FC face-off in the Canadian championship final

Vancouver Whitecaps and Vancouver FC face-off in the Canadian championship final

The Vancouver Whitecaps will face Vancouver FC in the TELUS Canadian Championship final, this Wednesday, October 1 at 7 p.m. at BC Place Stadium. The Vancouver Whitecaps team recently won the Cascadia Cup for the 8th time, setting a record. The Whitecaps will now be eyeing a fourth consecutive Canadian championship title. The Vancouver Whitecaps won the semi-finals against Forge FC by an aggregate score of 6-2 in the two matches and the team enters the final with strong momentum. Vancouver FC in a huddle during a match of Canadian championship. (Photo - Vancouver FC)However, Vancouver FC from

Jobs minister urges Canada Post to table new offer to striking union

Jobs minister urges Canada Post to table new offer to striking union

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu is urging Canada Post to quickly table an offer to the union of striking postal workers. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers took to the picket lines Thursday after Ottawa announced sweeping changes to the Crown corporation's operations to address its troubled financial situation. Those changes include ending daily mail delivery and moving almost all Canadian households to community mailboxes, moves the union calls a direct attack on workers. In an interview today, Hajdu did not rule out federal intervention to end the latest strike but also said Canada Post needs to

Algoma Steel to receive $500 million in federal, Ontario loans

Algoma Steel to receive $500 million in federal, Ontario loans

Ontario-based Algoma Steel Group Inc. will receive $500 million in federal and provincial loan assistance to help deal with the impact of U.S. tariffs. Ottawa says its $400 million in financial assistance will come from the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan program. The Ontario government will also provide $100 million to the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.-based company. The federal government says the impact of U.S. tariffs on the steel sector is "profound." Ottawa introduced the $10-billion financing program in March to support companies affected by tariffs. The loans are to help Algoma Steel continue op

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital