Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he will not fire his municipal affairs minister after she ignored health recommendations to holiday in sunny Hawaii..Tracy Allard flew back into the country on Wednesday to a firestorm of protest over her actions when the rest of the province was in a full pandemic lockdown. She flew to Hawaii on Dec. 19..Kenney said Allard made a “significant error in judgement” but noted she followed all the rules when it comes to international travel..He said other MLAs and political staff had also travelled and followed all the rules..The premier said he blames himself for not being clear with MLAs and senior staff that they should not travel abroad while the rest of Albertans remain in lockdown..He said he has now made an clear order demanding those people stay in the province..Kenney said he learned Tuesday Allard was in Hawaii and immediately ordered her back into the country..“This is not good enough, we should be here at home,” Kenney said at a Friday press conference..“There is now a clear order not to leave the country… unless it’s on government business.”.Kenney said Allard now realizes she was wrong and has admitted she made a mistake..He said the chief government whip advised MLAs not to travel at the last caucus meeting and several cancelled previously scheduled holidays..Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt tweeted Kenney’s statement wouldn’t go down well..“Kenney is essentially saying that ethics don’t matter, it is only if people broke the law,” Bratt tweeted..Allard’s trip set of a firestorm of tweets..NDP leader Rachel Notley tweeted: “For the record, and because so many of you have rightfully asked, all 24 NDP MLAs are here in Alberta and have been for the duration of the holidays. We take the public health orders seriously.”.Rakhi Pancholi, NDP MLA for Edmonton-Whitemud tweeted: “Leading by example is key to public trust. Minister Allard fundamentally broke that trust when she asked Albertans to do something she herself was unwilling to do. She is responsible for Alberta’s emergency management. She must resign.”.A similar faux paux cost Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips his job Thursday after he was caught dipping his toes in warm Caribbean seas while his province is in lockdown..Quebec Liberal member Pierre Arcand is now being asked to return home amid mounting criticism over his decision to vacation in the Caribbean..The federal, Alberta, Quebec and Ontario governments have all issued health restrictions which have included recommendations against non-essential travel.. Mossleigh pub briefly opens before authorities move in .CBC reported that they have confirmed with sources that the Grande Prairie MLA Allard – who was appointed to the senior cabinet position in August – was in Hawaii this month on a family vacation..Allard’s press secretary, Justin Marshall, did not respond to repeated requests for clarification on whether she had been out of the country this month, CBC reported..Marshall would only say the minister is now home in Grande Prairie, “mostly relaxing but with some work, too.”.Sources told the CBC that prior to the Christmas break, Premier Jason Kenney advised his caucus to remain in Alberta for the holidays. .In Ontario, a furious Premier Doug Ford announced he had accepted Phillip’s resignation on Thursday morning, shortly after the MPP returned from a luxury holiday in St. Barts..“Today, following my conversation with Rod Phillips, I have accepted his resignation as Ontario’s Minister of Finance,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a statement Thursday..“At a time when the people of Ontario have sacrificed so much, today’s resignation is a demonstration that our government takes seriously our obligation to hold ourselves to a higher standard,” he said..Phillips and his wife had left Canada on December 13, following the end of the legislative session, and travelled to the Caribbean island of St. Bart’s..Although Phillips didn’t violate any federal or provincial travel restrictions, he nonetheless apologized for making the trip..“It was a significant error in judgment – a dumb, dumb mistake, I apologize for it, I regret it.”.In Alberta, Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshan made a joke out the political scandal by sending out a photo of himself on an ice-covered lake but geotagged it from being sent it St. Bart’s..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter.com/nobby7694
