Doug Ford acknowledges transparency clamp-down is to protect his personal phone
Global News
The province is in the process of overhauling how freedom of information works in Ontario to retroactively exempt all calls and texts from the premier and others.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has acknowledged his government is clamping down on access to information laws to shield government-related calls he makes and receives on his personal phone.
The province is in the process of overhauling how freedom of information works in Ontario to retroactively exempt all calls and texts from the premier, his cabinet and their staff from public scrutiny.
The move comes barely three months after Ford lost a court battle in which a panel of three judges concluded it was logical he was using his personal phone to conduct government business and that, therefore, it should be subject to freedom of information laws.
Speaking at Queen’s Park on Tuesday, Ford appeared to confirm he was changing the law to shield his own call logs from scrutiny.
“When it comes to a cabinet conversation within cabinet and on personal cellphones that should not be FOIable,” he said, before accusing assembled journalists of looking to publish deeply personal information.
“And I know you guys, you’ll pull out every single number and someone’s health records. You’ll do everything you can if you don’t see eye to eye with someone.”
Through a years-long battle with Global News over his personal cellphone records, Ford’s lawyers have acknowledged that he uses his device for everything. He uses a single phone to make family calls, speak to constituents and speak to cabinet ministers or stakeholders.
“The practical reality is the premier performs many roles and is never fully off-duty,” lawyers wrote in 2023. “Accordingly, the premier makes and receives calls in his different roles as necessary at all times of the day.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford saw his attempts to stop his cellphone records being partially released blocked by a panel of judges. Critics say he's changing the law as a result.
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