It appears Rod Phillips will soon feel even more heat back home than in, well, St. Barts.

Doug Ford’s not happy with his finance minister’s decision to vacation abroad this month.

The premier says Phillips ”never told anyone” he was going to the Caribbean December 13, but the premier found out soon after the trip began.

”I did call him shortly after he arrived and I talked to him and asked where he was.  He said he was away, ” explains Ford.

”My mistake.  I take full responsibility.  At that time, I should have said, ‘get your backside back to Ontario,’ and I didn’t do that.”

Ford adds he takes full responsibility.

The premier says they’re going to have ”a very tough conversation” when he returns.

Phillips comes back tomorrow.

The minister said in a statement Tuesday he left on the trip after the end of the legislative session, not knowing the province would be placed under lockdown on Boxing Day, and ”deeply regrets” the move.

Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath says ”because of his lack of judgment and lack of honesty, Doug Ford must kick Rod Phillips out of cabinet.”

The NDP leader adds ”asking regular people to sacrifice while Ford’s insiders live the high life is wrong, and it has to stop.”