This week, Rod Phillips returned from his Caribbean Christmas vacation and was dumped from Doug Ford's cabinet. Steve Paikin writes:
When, a few years ago, Rod Phillips announced his intention to run for a seat at Queen’s Park, conservatives everywhere were pretty pleased.
Phillips was exactly the kind of candidate the Progressive Conservative party had hoped to attract. At that time in his early 50s, he had the perfect blend of experience in both the political back rooms and the private sector of the province. He’d been chief of staff to both a respected former Tory cabinet minister (Elizabeth Witmer), and a former Toronto mayor (Mel Lastman). He was at the side of then PC leader John Tory, through the 2007 Ontario election campaign.
He’d worked for some of the best companies in the private sector, including KPMG, Morneau-Shepell, and Goodman’s LLP, eventually becoming chair of the board of Postmedia, whose properties include the National Post, Toronto Sun, and Ottawa Citizen.
He also had experience in the public and voluntary sectors, as president and CEO of Ontario Lottery and Gaming, and chair of CivicAction, a non-profit.
In other words, Rod Phillips is not a dumb guy. He just can’t be to have achieved all of that.
Yet, when he returned to Pearson Airport he met the press, saying that he had made a "dumb, dumb mistake."
How could such a smart guy do something so stupid? The Greeks knew something about hubris. They knew that smart people made very stupid decisions. And the consequences of those decisions could be catastrophic.
Image: Life In the Realm Of Fantasy
19 comments:
It was essential that he should have resigned/been fired as it seems obvious to everyone that he had hoped to get away with it. The whole timeline seems to wreak of deception and collusion with his colleagues.there are many questions that we, the peons need answered. Who can afford to go to St. Barths? I've visited there while sailing and it is far from cheap with rooms costing $1,000 a night.I am sick of apologies that all these people make when caught out.He returned on the 31st and would presumably quarantine for fourteen days when the Legislature was to return on the 10th. If he hadn't been caught who would know.My daugter who is a frontline worker in Montreal under stress has had her vacation set back because she can't afford the vacation and two weeks unpaid quarantine. Phillips of course would still be paid. Crooks and liars everyone of them and Ford knew and should resign.
He's an elite. They tend not to have to suffer consequences for their actions.
Like when Brian Mulroney took a quarter million in a brown paper bag and "forgot" to declare it when he did his taxes.
Or when stephen harper committed war crimes and election fraud.
Clearly, Mr. Phillips believes that the rules apply to what Leona Helmsley famously dubbed "the little people," zoombats. He personifies the other virus that is tearing our society apart.
Mr. Phillips is yet another in a long line of fraudsters, thwap.
I suspect there's more to this than what's been reported. Breaking public health guidelines isn't career ending for most politicians. Trudeau and Ford have both been caught breaking Covid restrictions. BoJo's most senior advisor, Dominic Cummings, survived breaking lockdown. And let's not get into the GOP making a mockery of restrictions.
As zoombats points out, a vacay in St. Barts isn't like a package deal to Cuba. While Phillips isn't poor, I have reason to believe he was someone's guest. His resignation is likely to forestall the sort of grief Trudeau went through after his jaunt with the Aga Khan was revealed. A fin min doesn't just take off on a lark without the premier's approval. Phillips fell on his sword to protect Ford.
Cap
There are many lessons stemming from the disastrous 2020 pandemic, too numerous to mention, but near the top of the list is the two (or probably more) tiers of justice, rules and ethical behaviour. A guy like Phillips therefore has the sheer gall to take seemingly elaborate steps to cover his tracks while boarding a plane. That he got caught is the problem that the Premier has had to deal with. First, the travel while against all common sense and seemingly strict lockdown in Ontario, was not illegal. Which would have been the bigger PR nightmare, owning up to the trip in advance, or being caught trying to cover it up? As always, the cover up is worse than the crime and that is the true story here. Same happening it appears, much more broadly in Alberta. Dumb mistake or error in judgment? Not on your life, just the fact that different sets of rules apply to different types of people. BC Waterboy
I'm quite sure Phillips is helping to protect Ford, Cap. After all, many believe Ford owes lots of favours to the well connected.
That really is the point, waterboy. There clearly are two different sets of rules.
My question to all of these self-entitled folks and more importantly to their respective bosses is 2-part:
1. When was the trip booked and who paid for the ticket? also, given the instructions to all and sundry that we must restrict our travel did these officials &/or staff think it was ok?
2. Who paid for the accommodation at the respective destinations? and why could it not have been cancelled? as could/should have been the flight?
These are important to me because, unfortunately, I have a sneaking hunch that some of these vacations could very well be gifts/rewards for political decisions.
Several years ago I read a book entitled "Tarnished Brass" written by a Canadian about the highest level of the CAF going to "very important" conferences in far flung locations such as South America and lo and behold these upper Brass were often accompanied with the little woman so they could have a lovely 2 week vacation at the conference location (paid for primarily by the Canadian taxpayer.
Call me suspicious but, you know that old joke about politicians and lips moving still exists.
One thing we can respect is Phillips did the honourable thing and resigned, although we don't know under what terms. On the other hand Owen, Premier Hubris, Jason Kenny, did not compel his Minister of Municipal Affairs or some high end staffers to walk the plank for similar bad judgments. RG
We already have the example of a prime minister spending time on a private island, Lulymay. It seems foolish to think that instance is just a very rare occurrence.
That's a good point, RG. Kenney's reaction was totally different than Ford's -- and it goes a long way in explaining Alberta's present dire situation.
You're on to something Lulymay- this sure stinks and we're far from knowing the whole story, I'm sure with a little digging someone will find out the truth. BC Waterboy
And Tracy Allard's Hawaii vacation was a much more egregious offence as, I believe, it is her ministry in charge of vaccination delivery.
Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives...
John Stuart Mill
Mill's observation has been proved true for over a century, jrk.
they move into a bubble and don't see out side of it. they think they can either get away with it or they are entitled to the vacation. They forget they, as leaders in their province, are to set an e.g. He may be smart, but he lacks what we used to refer to as "good judgement". Ford did the right thing by firing/resigining him. Too bad the other premiers didn't follow suite. An apology is not good enough in this time of COVID.
these politicians had not excuse. they all live a nice life style. staying home wasn't going to be a great imposition. They all live in nice houses, have lots of food, etc. They didn't stop to think of the people who they represent living in small one and two bedroom condos with a couple of kids trying to make it from pay day to pay day.
.. Lost in the noise.. radar clutter..
that was the Steve Bannon Manifesto - 'flood the zone with shit'
Now we have MLA Wonderboy Rod Phillips
and I will mention an Alberta MLA ms Fir
Both engaged in Deceptive pre-recorded vids with 'time release' blah blah
'Christmas Eve' cozy fire in Ajax, Ont or 'here in our riding' Calgary Alberta blah blah
As 'expert level' video producer, director, shooter, editor, writer
I know when and what I see in any damn video or film & how its done
Yes I have envied National Film Board experience
Produced the TSX going public vids seen by brokers worldwide
and wrote every draft - 28 in fact
Created accredited CME medical vids out of every CDN 'teaching hospital'
I can 'read between the lines' of deceptive propaganda - virtue signalling
My current observation - question is..
where does Ajax, Ont MLA Rod Phillips actually live ?
Does he represent a vacant lot or rental property in Ajax ?
Does he resemble Jason Kenney ? 'Living in' Mommy's basement apartment ?
the old 'principal residence' loop around ? Skim the Public ?
We get the Main Media tip of the iceburg only..
or is it we get the ice cream cone
after some political animal with entourage of enablers has licked it clean
and is so benevolent we should be humbled.. ?
Mound underestimates my outrage..
it is scald the cat mean ass kick yo ass vicious eye gouge heat
If Walkerton was 'dreadful' where on the scale is every LTC center ?
Hell & damnation.. every floor of every LTC center
there within the 'Iron Ring of Protection - Three Point Plan'
ass farted direct from Doug Ford with nodding head Ms Christine Elliott
I'm just 'warming to my task'.. I aint gone total volcanic .. not even close
Apologies in advance.. my 'language' and factuals will be mean spirited
I will come with a seven furrow plough, a full tank
and bury these scumbags.. Go to Hawaii I give a fucknot
lie your ass off while killing seniors with partisan lip service ?
that aint noise.. that's murder.. malice, afore thought, motive
Well 'good luck' to them.. but these pondscum aint seen nothing yet
I agree, e.a.f. They have forgotten about the "ordinary people" they represent.
When I was a kid in Montreal, sal, I delivered The Montreal Star to the house of a guy who worked for The National Film Board. To this day I remember what he told me: "They say the camera doesn't lie. They're wrong. It lies like hell."
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