Alberta UCP Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard has added her name to the Rogue’s Gallery of Canadian politicians ignoring their own government’s requests to avoid unnecessary travel during the COVID-19 lockdown..Instead, Allard has been enjoying the sun, surf and sand of Hawaii, while Alberta remains in a full winter pandemic lockdown, CBC is reporting..That’s despite a direct order from Premier Jason Kenney to his caucus to stay close to home during his provincial lockdown..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 – who was appointed to the senior cabinet position in August – was in Hawaii this month on a family vacation. CBC sources told them she returned to the frozen lands of Alberta on Wednesday..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
