Laws for the freedom of information are crucial for a healthy democracy. It empowers us to hold our government accountable and allow us to be  informed accurately and transparently.

This power is now under threat with proposed changes to Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).

The Government of Ontario intends to amend FIPPA to exempt the Premier’s Office, ministers’ offices, cabinet ministers, and parliamentary assistants from public access-to-information laws. This proposal undermines the very foundation of our democratic system by potentially shrouding government actions in secrecy. Transparency and accountability are the cornerstones of democracy, ensuring that governmental decisions reflect the best interest of the public rather than private or political gain, which has happened previously and risks happening again without the right accountability tools. 

Freedom of information is a democratic right that upholds public trust. If these changes are implemented, they will drastically reduce the scope of what the public can know about governmental actions, decisions, and policies, creating a less informed and more suspicious citizenry.

Statistics from freedom of information processes indicate that such transparency is crucial for rooting out inefficiencies and corruption.

I urge our fellow citizens to stand with me against these changes. Let us protect our right to transparency.

Sign this petition to defend transparency and accountability in Ontario’s government.