Ford government freedom-of-information clampdown likely to become law soon
Written by The Canadian Press on April 23, 2026
TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government is likely set to pass legislation today that will make the records of the premier, cabinet ministers and their staff secret, after refusing to hold public hearings and speeding through a late-night sitting.
Ford has admitted that part of the rationale for the clampdown is to kill a request from Global News to obtain his cellphone records.
The law will be retroactive to 1988 and therefore nullify current requests, even those made years ago
NDP Leader Marit Stiles says holding the last few hours of legislative debate Wednesday night so the final vote can happen today shows the government is hoping to keep Ontarians in the dark.
The Liberals say the law amounts to a cover-up of a cover-up, suggesting there is information in Ford’s call logs that he does not want coming to light.
Ford has said he wants to protect the private information of ordinary citizens who text and call his cellphone, but that is already protected by the current freedom-of-information law.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2026.
Allison Jones, The Canadian Press