Toronto, Jan 1 (IANS): A Canadian minister, who was on Wednesday caught enjoying a clandestine Christmas holiday in the Caribbean while people in his country has been under Covid-19 lockdown, has resigned on his return.

Ontario's Finance Minister Rod Phillips was ordered to end his holidays and return immediately by his Premier Doug Ford after a massive public backlash. He resigned on Thursday.

Ontario has been in its second lockdown since December 26 as Covid-19 cases have hit record numbers.

Minister Phillips had quietly slipped out of Canada on December 14 to enjoy holidays.

During his holidays, the minister maintained the facade that he was in Ontario.

In a video call on December 16 from his holiday resort, he fooled people by using a fake backdrop of Ontario's assembly building.

On Christmas eve, he was shown sitting in his office and greeting people with these words, "As we all make sacrifices this Christmas, remember that some of our fellow citizens won't even be home for Christmas dinner over Zoom. Thousands of front line heroes will be at work, looking out for us. Who is the special hero in your life you want to thank?"

Resigning after arrival in Toronto, the minister said going on a holiday during the lockdown was "a significant error in judgment -- a dumb, dumb mistake, I apologize for it, I regret it."