When the Ford government first unveiled its controversial changes to Ontario’s freedom of information laws, the province promised that 95 per cent of the work at Queen’s Park would still be accessible and transparent.
The province’s vast complement of civil servants, the government argued, would be looped into major government files — allowing the public, journalists and opposition parties to request and receive key documents related to government decisions.
“I want to make it very clear that 95 per cent of what is accessible now — actually, greater than that — will still be accessible through freedom of information,” Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public Business and Service Delivery, stated repeatedly in the Ontario Legislature.
“Any direction from ministerial offices to the public service is still open to freedom of information. Anything within the public service is open to freedom of information so that people will be able to access that information.”
But freedom of information disclosures from Ontario’s top civil servant are shedding new light on just how little information is actually released on government discussion and decisions.
Global News requested copies of notes kept by Secretary of Cabinet Michelle Di Emmanuel on the province’s decision to mandate the civil service’s full time return to office.
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“This is a request for documents held by Michelle Di Emmanuel. Please disclose any handwritten notes relating to the return to the office for all civil servants. In addition, please disclose any emails from Michelle Di Emmanuel to anyone in the premier’s office regarding the mandate,” the request by Global News read.
While Di Emmanuel offered up a black notebook with handwritten notes on the topic, the majority of the information was redacted before being released.
Of the 15 pages from Di Emmanuel’s notebook, the government only allowed roughly 25 words, phrases or dates to be released.
- Among the words:
“Pat” – a reference to Premier Doug Ford’s former chief of staff, Patrick Sackville - “RTO” – a reference to return to office
- “Premier”
- “Weekly meeting”
- “Appointed week” — a phrase that didn’t include context
- “Sept 24/25, Aug. 26/25” — dates that didn’t include context.
A drawing of two square brackets and a rectangle also made it into public disclosure.
“That’s not acceptable at all,” Ontario Liberal interim leader John Fraser told Global News. “The reason we have freedom of information is so that people have access to how decisions are being made in the government.”
Crawford’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for the cabinet office, which is run by civil servants, defended the redactions.
“The document in question are pages from the Secretary of the Cabinet’s notebook, which includes notes on a wide range of sensitive government business,” they wrote. “Any information not related to the RTO request is non-responsive to the request and has been withheld on that basis.”
They added that “some RTO‑related content was also withheld because it contains employment‑related or labour‑relations matters… These redactions are routine and would have been applied to the same information regardless of where it appeared in government records.”
While Crawford introduced the changes, they will be passed as part of the province’s budget, which is currently rushing through the legislature and bypassing public hearings.
Finance Minister Peter Bethlanfalvy, who was shown the redacted documents during a scrum on Wednesday, would not comment on the specifics, but defended the freedom of information overhaul.
“I think that the public service, who are doing an outstanding job, they’re following the rules,” he said. “We’re lining up with other jurisdictions; our Westminster model is based on this.”
Pressed on the redactions, he added: “I can’t speak to the documents you’re flashing in front of me. I’m not going to speak to those.”
The changes to freedom of information rules, which will remove the premier, his cabinet and all their staff from having to disclose records or communications, could pass this week.
Lose some weight from your body, not official documents, Ford. The taxpayer is sick of your corruption.
This is not accountability or transparency to the major share holder in Ontario – the people! Michele, shame on you and Mr. Ford needs to be gone. What are they hiding?
Ford always laid claim on how corrupt the Wynne government was, which it was; but with this latest removal of the FOI crammed through by his majority of minions, he has raised the bar for corruption. If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to worry about. This leadership has all the earmarks of the administration south of our border. They’re all the same!
When a government tries to push through legislation quickly and by-passes public hearings, it is, as the younger generation say, “very sus”.
Ford : Trust us bro .
Given everything that’s been uncovered about this government from previous FOI requests, it’s safe to assume that anything they redact or withhold is just more blatant corruption.
We need to see 100%
I’m not going to popular with this but Freedom of Information requests should be conditional on what the request is for and who it’s made by. A homeowner directly affected by a government decision should 100% get all the files, a reporter looking to write an article, not so much.
RTO is frustrating for health care workers as RTO costs pertaining to rents and utilities don’t make sense when there are hiring freezes on ‘non-essential staff’. In spite of government commercials health care is consistently running short staffed and hallway healthcare is just as bad as ever. I continually hear about these new job opportunities on advertisements and feel like the public is being gas lighted. Remote works is more efficient, less distractions and cost effective for everyone.
We’re doing a fantastic job and following all the rules, but you aren’t allowed to actually check up on that, you just have to trust us!
Believe this , the government is an absolute tax pig with no cause beyond taking yr money 1st. This ridiculous agenda costs tax payers more money in regards to health care , for all other government bodies get yr ass back to work . Ontario health….no we are not buying & leasing office space costing tax payers millions for ppl that travel & visit tge community daily…? Thats the dumb ass Ford idea… again all politicians yes 100 % ,2 wks holidays a yr , 100% office time
Considering the gravy plaine fiasco, the people of Ontario do not support reductions of f o i access. That part of the bill must be rescinded immediately
Redacted ” we are forcing our civil servants to subsidize Tim Hortons and Starbucks” despite knowing that they have worked remotely/hybrid successfully for the last 5 years