Doug Ford's Contempt for Transparency and the Public
Ford wants protesters shot, beer drank and accountability curtailed
When Doug Ford learned charges were dropped against a homeowner in Vaughan who allegedly shot at three men attempting to break into his home, he decided to, quite literally, choose violence.
"Congratulations, I'm glad you shot the guy." Ford said in a particularly Trumpian fashion. "Should have shot him a couple more times as far as I'm concerned."
While charges were dropped in this particular instance, it's important to remember that self-defence in Canada is not typically clear cut. As Browne Criminal Defence notes, "You may act in self-defence if you reasonably believe force is being used against you or someone else, or that a threat of force is being made against you or someone else, and your response is reasonable in the circumstances." It appears in this circumstance that was the case. But Ford decided that wanton murderous intent was actually preferable to self-defence.
Further, Ford lumped protesters, most likely pro-Palestine demonstrators, into criminal elements. "People are done with this. They're done with all these crazy protesters and nasty people and breaking into homes an stealing cars..." Ford then suggested this didn't happen 10 years ago, before he became premier. Who's to blame, then?
As an aside, while taking a firearm safety course for my PAL, another class member asked about shooting home intruders. The instructor mentioned someone asked this every class, so he dedicated time each session to explain that you cannot "hunt" people with the intent to kill. In this case it appears it was not the intent the man had. But Ford wanted more blood. Including protesters in his preferred targets of gun violence shows, once again, how little he regards the public.
These comments come after it was revealed that the Ford government is planning to change Freedom of Information (FOI) rules to protect the Ontario premier, cabinet and parliamentary assistants from having their records subject to public release. This change would be retroactive, interfering in current existing requests that haven't been fulfilled. FOI requests, which allow any member of the public to request information pertinent to the government, are fundamental for journalism, but anyone can file them. Information on public servants is meant to be public, after all.
Ford's reason for exempting himself and his ministers from FOI requests is tragically comic. Three months ago, Ford lost a court case which affirmed that his personal cellphone was subject to FOI requests. The reason? "The conclusions that the Premier used his personal cellphone to conduct Cabinet Office Matters is a finding of fact." In other words, since Ford was conducting government business on his personal cellphone, that cellphone's records were subject to FOI requests.
He didn't like that, so now his government will be limiting public accountability because two phones is apparently too much of a bother for him. This isn't speculation. Ford said publicly that "When it comes to a cabinet conversation within cabinet and on personal cellphones that should not be FOIable." Ford even went so far as to accuse journalists as attempting to pull personal phone numbers and health records from his records; Things that are currently exempt from disclosure.
Scott Martin
As reported by Isaac Callan and Colin D'Mello at Global News, critics have accused Ford of "flooding the zone," a phrase coined by former Trump advisor and Jeffrey Epstein pal Steve Bannon. This describes a tactic which involves pushing as much out into the public and media as possible to overwhelm opponents. Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles and Ontario Liberal MPP John Fraser both pointed to this tactic. After the FOI announcement, Ford posted a video declaring his government would look to ban an Al-Quds Day Rally in Toronto and announced a plan to livestream bail hearings. Other government news included the province's attorney general sending a letter to the federal government to legalize pepper spray in self-defence, multiple transportation changes and extension of mall business hours on holidays.
"Flood the zone" is certainly a tactic that Ford appears to be utilizing, but conflating this with a "distraction" is dubious. His policies have always been cartoonishly pro-business and anti-accountability. Ford seems particularly attached to loosening restrictions around alcohol and driving in a bid to curry favour. Moreover, Since the Progressive Conservative election win in 2025, rumblings have arose around Ford's ambitions to become prime minister. It could be argued that the latest flurry is merely a tactic to be deployed in the last term of a provincial government before Ford's ambitions aim higher.
Whatever the reason, this third majority term has seen Ford survive scandal after scandal with little, if any, effect on his party's electoral prospects. Why wouldn't he "move fast and break things" as the old tech oligarch saying goes?
Ford's FOI policy has shocked representatives across the political spectrum. Opposition parties, of course, have voiced their dissent but other critics include the Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) and the right-wing Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Additionally, representatives of First Nations have decried the move. The efficacy of these condemnations will most likely be limited, however. With a massive majority, Ford has shown he can simply do what he wants.
The FOI changes are not simply a journalism issue, it's one that affects everyone in Ontario. Less transparency in such an antagonistic government means more damaging policies able to be rammed through. It's another appalling instance of Ford's contempt for the public; Shallow policies surrounding alcohol and driving covering for erosion of accountability.
Ontario: Open for business and nothing else.
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