Ontario to Exempt Cabinet Records from FOI Requests

In Toronto, the Ontario government announced plans on March 13, 2026, to amend its Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, exempting records held by Premier Doug Ford and cabinet members from public disclosure requests. The changes, described by officials as a modernization of the nearly 40-year-old legislation, are set to be introduced in the legislature upon its return from a three-month break.

Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Minister Stephen Crawford outlined the proposed reforms, emphasizing that they align with longstanding Westminster traditions of cabinet confidentiality. The current law already shields deliberations that could reveal cabinet discussions, but Crawford stated that existing protections were insufficient. "This government has probably been one of the most transparent governments in the history of Ontario," he said, adding that the updates address unnecessary privacy risks for both government operations and the public.

Under the amendments, all documents, messages, and decisions managed solely by ministers or their political staff would be withheld from freedom of information requests. This includes communications on...