“We’re all in this together” has been a constant refrain from politicians during the course of the pandemic. From the beginning, there was never any truth in this. In the same storm, yes, but the boats that became available for this storm ranged from yachts, to rowing boats, to scraps of wood. Given what’s happened in the last few weeks with government ministers and officials, especially in Alberta and Ontario, a more apt refrain would be “there’s one law for the rich and powerful and another law for the poor.”
The media, understandably, focussed their attention on the two biggest “sinners,” both involving cabinet ministers taking holidays abroad – Rod Phillips, Finance Minister, in the Ontario government and Tracy Allard, Alberta’s Municipal Affairs Minister. Traditionally, during the Christmas/New Year period, thousands of Canadians travel abroad but in the year of COVID-19 most people respected the pandemic guidelines of government and public health authorities to stay home. The Alberta government website stated that all Albertans should “avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice.” So, these politicians decided that we’re all not in it together – we’re talking about the sense of entitlement and privilege that goes with the holding of political office. Do as I say, not as I do!
Ontario: Phillips – the original sinner
Initially, Rod Phillips attracted the most attention. He is the former president and CEO of a business which provided companies with employee and family health management. He also worked as the president and CEO of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and as chair of the media conglomerate, Postmedia. In other words, he wasn’t exactly hurting for cash.
Phillips and his wife left Canada on December 13 – shortly after the legislature closed – despite guidance issued as early as November urging Ontarians to stay home during the holiday season. The Phillips’ destination was no modest, all inclusive resort. It was the exclusive Caribbean island of St. Barts – full of natural wonders, but best known as the stomping grounds of the glitterati. Well-heeled visitors are drawn by the pristine white beaches, exclusive vibe, five-star restaurants and luxury shops. Some of the villas there can be all yours for just $150,000 a week. It’s been described as a “summer camp for the wealthy.” Or “It’s like the whole island is Studio 54 at its peak.”
No doubt, it was his awareness of this atmosphere plus a knowledge that this winter getaway was simply wrong that led Phillips to try to cover his tracks. His official Twitter account gave the impression that he was still in Ontario (with a photo of himself clad in a sweater in front of a fireplace) and he reminded Ontarians on Christmas Eve to thank the “special heroes” making sacrifices during the pandemic. “As we all make sacrifices this Christmas, remember that some of our fellow citizens won’t even be home for Christmas dinner over Zoom,” the tweet reads. “Thousands of front-line heroes will be at work, looking out for us.” In a statement while still at St. Barts, he said he continued to “work daily” including “dozens” of constituency and cabinet calls and meetings.
When found out, Phillips said he “deeply regretted” taking a personal trip over the holidays. He claimed that if he had known the province was going into lockdown on December 26, he wouldn’t have taken the trip. Yet this was not his first “mistake.” In the summer, he had taken another personal trip to Switzerland.
Phillips is not the only Ontario Minister to “misbehave.” In June, the Health Minister Christine Elliott attracted scrutiny after she was photographed in a liquor store while awaiting the result of a COVID-19 test. In October, Niagara West MPP, Sam Oosterhoff, posted a controversial photo to social media of a large gathering of maskless family members at a local restaurant. Ford himself broke the rules (limiting physical contact to those in your own household) back in May when he admitted that two of his daughters who live in different households visited his home over Mother’s Day weekend.
Alberta: the sinners multiply
Minister Allard’s holiday was to Hawaii, her family’s “annual tradition” of a vacation there every Christmas for the past 17 years. She is not in the same money league as Rod Phillips, but she and her husband own and operate two Tim Horton’s franchises in Grande Prairie. Most Albertans, especially in recent years with the job losses in the province, cannot afford one trip to Hawaii, never mind one every year. Like Phillips, she tried to cover her tracks. Her Instagram account shows that four days after she had left for Hawaii, she posted a “Merry Christmas” greeting to her constituents and tagged her location at the “Alberta Legislature Building.” Allard, later, also regretted her “mistake” but did not offer to resign.
Soon after, it was revealed that Premier Kenney’s chief of staff, Jamie Huckabay, travelled to Britain in December. In addition, five more of Kenney’s United Conservative Party (UCP) MLAs – Jason Stephan, Tanya Fir, Jeremy Nixon, Pat Rehn and Tany Yao – also took trips abroad, to Hawaii, Mexico and southern US.
Official responses
Neither of the two provincial premiers have come out well from this affair. Initially, Doug Ford tried to give the impression that he didn’t know about Phillips’ Caribbean jaunt. While it is true that he was ignorant before departure, he found out about the Minister’s location three days into the vacation. Ford did not demand his immediate return. It was only when knowledge of the trip came out through the media that Ford decided to play it heavy. Ford, ever the populist, could sense the mood in Ontario, stating that “I have let the minister know that his decision to travel is completely unacceptable and that it will not be tolerated again.” Soon after, Phillips had resigned.
Kenney, in contrast, initially took no action against any of the jetsetters. He revealed supreme arrogance and thought he could bluff his way through. However, howls of rage and protest swept Alberta, with even some of his own UCP MLAs calling for action. Kenney and his party’s hypocrisy enraged Albertans. Even in November, as COVID cases soared, Kenney refused to act instead, urging “personal responsibility.” The hypocrisy of his emphasis on personal responsibility was not lost on Albertans, who noticed that many of UCP political leaders refused to take personal responsibility.
Eventually, after days of protest, Kenney got Allard and Huckabay to resign and demoted the other MLAs. But he only acted due to the protests of many voters who could not visit family or friends, even if it were a “tradition.” Before this Kenney was the least popular Premier in Canada; no doubt support for him and his party will sink even lower.
Some other cases
Federal NDP member of Parliament, Niki Ashton, lost her cabinet critic position over a trip to Greece to visit an ill relative. In Saskatchewan, Highways Minister Joe Hargrave resigned and apologized for travelling with his wife to California. Québec Liberal assembly member Pierre Arcand lost his shadow cabinet position after a trip to Barbados. Conservative MP, David Sweet, from Ontario who travelled to the US to deal with a property issue, has resigned as chair of the House of Commons Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics Committee. Two federal liberal MPs, Kamal Khera and Sameer Zuberi, both travelled to the US, Khera to attend a memorial service for her father and uncle and the Zuberi to visit a sick relative, have both resigned their parliamentary committee positions.
Damaging and out of touch
Millions of Canadians are tired of COVID and the restrictions, but the vast majority stick to the public health guidelines. But if politicians can so blatantly disregard the guidelines, why should ordinary people stick to them? These trips abroad can undermine public health.
Every day seniors are dying in the misnamed care homes. On January 4, Kenney finally acted by firing UCP members. On that same day it was announced that an Alberta health care worker had died of COVID and 96 Albertans had died over the previous four days. A day later, the second death of a health care worker was announced.
The inequality between jet-setting politicians and the reality of COVID for most Canadians is stark. Inequality that socialism will end.
