Ontario Government passes spring Budget containing controversial FOI changes

The Ontario government led by Premier Doug Ford has passed its spring budget, which includes significant and controversial amendments to the province’s Freedom of Information (FOI) laws.

Under the new legislation, the Premier and cabinet ministers will be allowed to keep records from their offices confidential. One of the most contentious aspects of the change is its retroactive application, meaning it applies to past records as well. This effectively removes the requirement for Premier Ford to comply with a previous court order that directed the release of his phone call logs related to government business.

The bill was fast-tracked through the legislature using the government’s majority, with no public hearings held. During the final vote, the bill passed with 57–33 votes.

Opposition parties, including the Liberals and the NDP, strongly criticized the move. They argued that FOI laws have historically played a key role in uncovering major controversies, including the Greenbelt scandal, and warned that the changes would reduce government transparency and accountability.

Premier Ford defended the changes, stating that they are intended to protect personal privacy, noting that he uses his personal phone for both private and sensitive government-related communications.