Ontario’s government is going to court to prevent the release of documents related to its blue licence plates. Lawyers have applied for a judicial review of decisions by Ontario’s information and privacy commissioner that ordered the province to release documents requested under freedom-of-information laws. Critics say the court fight reflects a wider clampdown on public access to government records. The government argues that the requested materials contain confidential advice, even though the request targeted documents within the civil service. The blue plates were introduced in early 2020 and became controversial soon after, with public attention and criticism about transparency and how tax dollars are used.
"Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government is going to court to try to prevent the release of documents about its ill-fated blue licence plates, a move that comes amid a broader clampdown on public access to government records. Lawyers for the government have applied for a judicial review of decisions by Ontario's information and privacy commissioner ordering the province to release documents in response to a freedom-of-information request by The Canadian Press."
"While access to the documents should not be affected by recent, controversial changes the Ford government has made to freedom-of-information laws, the decision to fight in court to keep them secret is part of a troubling trend against transparency, critics say. "Secrecy is the status quo for the Ford government," Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner wrote in a statement."
"The blue licence plate request was for documents within the civil service, but the government still does not want them made public, arguing they contain confidential advice. The plates, featuring what critics note are shades of blue similar to Progressive Conservative branding, rolled out in early 2020. Within weeks, a Kingston, Ont., police officer posted a photo to social media showing they were"
Read at www.cbc.ca
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