Federal and provincial politicians have faced backlash and consequences following trips abroad over the holidays, while a large Christmas gathering by an independent MPP has prompted a police investigation. Jacqueline Biollo, a principal with Aurora Strategy Group, said the politicians’ actions are regrettable, even if their political careers survive. “I’m embarrassed for each and every one of them,” she said in an interview. “They should know better for more than one reason. … Being in the public’s eye you’re scrutinized more severely and held to greater standards, but you are also looked at as a leader. So regrettably, these ‘do as I say and not as I do’ senses of entitlement by some elected officials is simply a shame.” Rod Phillips resigned as Ontario’s finance minister on Dec. 31, having been at Saint Barthélemy in the Caribbean since Dec. 13. Phillips apologized for what he called “a significant error in …