Ontario's Secretive Budget Bill: FOI Changes & Perks

0:00Ontario's government just pushed through a budget bill that changes freedom of information laws to protect Premier Doug Ford's cell phone records from. Public BU. They sped it up with a late-night session at Queen's Park, skipping public hearings altogether. Progressive conservative members backed it fully while opposition parties voted no and chanted for freedom of information. The government claims this lines up better with federal rules and other provinces stressing that four chats publicly on his phone and folks expect privacy there. Critics warned this makes Ontario the most secretive government in Canada, with retroactive rules that hide documents forever, unlike Lucer Federal. Access to Minister's Files. Experts note existing exemptions already cover cabinet talks and personal info. The bill packs in perks too, like small business tax cuts, bigger HST rebates on new homes and caps on resale ticket prices. Finance Minister Peter Bethan Falby said 95% of info requests they open, but admitted no

1:01one asked for these FOI tweaks. Opposition leaders slammed it hard. NDP's merit styles vows reversal if they win power. Liberals plan a targeted vote after break. Ford fired back personally at a critic MPP, calling her digs Trumpian, as the fight over transparency heats up. That's the story for today. Canada News Today, driven by AI.