The Ontario Government is proposing changes to its freedom of information (FOI) laws that critics say could reduce public access to government records.
In a March announcement from the Province of Ontario, Premier Doug Ford’s government said it plans to update its “cyber security, privacy and access framework” to better align with other jurisdictions across Canada.
As a part of the proposed changes, the government is considering exempting the Premier, cabinet ministers, and parliamentary assistants from being subject to the province’s FOI system.
Regulations pertaining to FOI requests, formally laid out in Ontario under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), allow members of the public to request access to government records. These can include e-mails, reports, contracts, and internal communications.
Anyone can write an FOI request, including journalists, researchers, and private citizens. The system is often used as a tool to hold governments accountable by making internal decision-making processes visible to the public.
FOI requests have played a major role in uncovering provincial controversies. Reporting on issues like the Greenbelt land swap, the Ontario Science Centre redevelopment, and conditions within Ontario’s jail system have all relied, in part, on access to government records obtained through FOI requests.
The proposed changes come amid ongoing political and media review of the Ford government’s transparency practices, including efforts by news organizations to obtain Ford’s cellphone records.
In a statement, Ontario Liberal MPP Stephanie Smyth criticized the proposal, saying it would weaken transparency and accountability. She said it amounts to a “power grab” that would shield governments officials from investigation.
“It’s one of the most basic tools citizens have to hold those in power accountable,” she said.
The Ontario Government has framed the changes as part of a broader modernization effort. According to its announcement, the updates are intended to strengthen privacy protections and improve how public-sector data is managed.
A recent poll by Abacus Data found that 60 per cent of Ontarians oppose proposed changes that would reduce access to government information, with 21 per cent supporting the changes.
The proposed changes aren’t yet law and are expected to be introduced as legislation when the provincial legislature resumes. The bill would then need to pass through Ontario’s legislative process before taking effect.
Tags
Doug Ford, FIPPA, Province of Ontario
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