Oakville mayor resigns from Halton police board after approving chief's Florida trip

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton has resigned as chairof the Halton Police Board after he approved a trip to Florida by Halton's police chief in late December.

Burton granted hisapproval of the trip byHalton Regional Police Chief Stephen Tanner despite a federal government advisory that urges all Canadians to avoid "non-essential" travel outside of Canada to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In a statement on Monday, Burton said he is "deeply regretful" for giving his approvalbefore Tanner took the trip.

"I regret sincerely that I focused at the time on the ways the chief's trip qualified as essential travel," Burton writes in the statement.

"I should have recommended against it because it could generate public concern about me not setting a higher example than the rules and guidelines actually called for."

Tanner hassaid he went to Floridato look aftera "personal business" matter. He has also since apologized for the trip, saying it was a poor decision to travel in the face of the federal advisorynot to leave the country.

Burton, in a statement earlier this week after the news broke, said hehad"no objection" to Tanner's request for approval and Tanner still hadhis "full confidence."

The federal government says on its website: "Avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice."