To fight this authoritarian bill, we need to act now. We all need to call/email our MPPs, and we all need to flood the government with Freedom of Information requests in protest, so it's on their record if the bill passes.
I made this post to guide you how to do it step by step.
If you're tired of what Ford is doing, I highly suggest you push back ASAP.
Subject: I oppose the proposed changes to the FOI act
Hello [your MPP's name],
My name is [your name], and I'm a constituent in your riding. I'm reaching out about the proposed changes to Ontario's Freedom of Information Act.
I believe exempting the Premier and cabinet ministers from FOI requests would seriously damage public accountability. The Privacy Commissioner has called these changes "shocking".
Accountability and transparency are the cornerstones of democracy. I ask that you oppose this bill.
Best regards,
[your name]
[your street address and postal code]
If you want, call your MPP's office and tell them exactly what you emailed. Phone calls are more impactful.
Once that's done, flood the government with FOI requests. Every request filled before the bill passes is one more on the record.
You don't need a lawyer, just $5 and a written request specific enough for a public servant to locate the record.
Again, sounds confusing but I'll walk you through it step by step. It only takes 5 minutes.
Scroll down until you find "File an online request" highlighted in blue. Click it.
Next, scroll down until you find a list that says "Forms, Links, and Information." Click "Access link" that's directly underneath "English - on00089e-link - Access or Correction Request."
Check mark "Access to general records (non-personal information)"
You'll see a dropdown that says "Name of institution request made to" below.
Select "Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement" in the dropdown, then hit Next.
Fill in your information (first, last name, address, etc...) then hit Next
On the "Description of Records or Correction Requested" text box, copy/paste this:
All correspondence between the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement and external parties regarding proposed amendments to FIPPA.
It'll then ask you to specify the time period of the records you're requesting. In the "from (yyyy/mm/dd)," copy/paste: 2026/01/01. In the "to (yyyy/mm/dd)," copy paste: 2026/03/13.
It'll ask you how you want to examine the documents. Check either "receive copy" or "examine original." Then hit Review Form.
*NOTE: You can request absolutely anything to any ministry, I just put this as an example so you can just copy/paste this if you feel too overwhelmed.
Once you hit Review Form, it'll show you a recap of what you're about to submit. Hit "Submit" at the bottom.
Then select a payment and pay the $5 FOI fee.
And there you have it! You successfully submitted a FOI request.
FOI requests are crucial in our democracy because it's how we found out about the Greenbelt scandal, Ontario Place corruption, Skills Development Fund scandal, and Ford's staff vehicles going at stunt driving speeds.
Remember, evil prevails when good people do nothing.
He's counting on us to give up. Let's prove him wrong.
100% credit goes to u/jbsosbj for the FOI request information, just wanted to condense everything in one post to make it easier for everyone to fight back.
To fight this authoritarian bill, we need to act now. We all need to call/email our MPPs, and we all need to flood the government with Freedom of Information requests in protest, so it's on their record if the bill passes.
I made this post to guide you how to do it step by step.
If you're tired of what Ford is doing, I highly suggest you push back ASAP.
First, copy/paste this email template to your MPP (you can find yours here: https://www.ola.org/en/members/current )
Subject: I oppose the proposed changes to the FOI act
Hello [your MPP's name],
My name is [your name], and I'm a constituent in your riding. I'm reaching out about the proposed changes to Ontario's Freedom of Information Act.
I believe exempting the Premier and cabinet ministers from FOI requests would seriously damage public accountability. The Privacy Commissioner has called these changes "shocking".
Accountability and transparency are the cornerstones of democracy. I ask that you oppose this bill.
Best regards,
[your name]
[your street address and postal code]
If you want, call your MPP's office and tell them exactly what you emailed. Phone calls are more impactful.
Once that's done, flood the government with FOI requests. Every request filled before the bill passes is one more on the record.
You don't need a lawyer, just $5 and a written request specific enough for a public servant to locate the record.
Again, sounds confusing but I'll walk you through it step by step. It only takes 5 minutes.
Go to https://www.ontario.ca/page/freedom-information-request
Scroll down until you find "File an online request" highlighted in blue. Click it.
Next, scroll down until you find a list that says "Forms, Links, and Information." Click "Access link" that's directly underneath "English - on00089e-link - Access or Correction Request."
Check mark "Access to general records (non-personal information)"
You'll see a dropdown that says "Name of institution request made to" below.
Select "Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement" in the dropdown, then hit Next.
Fill in your information (first, last name, address, etc...) then hit Next
On the "Description of Records or Correction Requested" text box, copy/paste this:
All correspondence between the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement and external parties regarding proposed amendments to FIPPA. It'll then ask you to specify the time period of the records you're requesting. In the "from (yyyy/mm/dd)," copy/paste: 2026/01/01. In the "to (yyyy/mm/dd)," copy paste: 2026/03/13.
It'll ask you how you want to examine the documents. Check either "receive copy" or "examine original." Then hit Review Form.
*NOTE: You can request absolutely anything to any ministry, I just put this as an example so you can just copy/paste this if you feel too overwhelmed.
Once you hit Review Form, it'll show you a recap of what you're about to submit. Hit "Submit" at the bottom.
Then select a payment and pay the $5 FOI fee.
And there you have it! You successfully submitted a FOI request.
FOI requests are crucial in our democracy because it's how we found out about the Greenbelt scandal, Ontario Place corruption, Skills Development Fund scandal, and Ford's staff vehicles going at stunt driving speeds.
Remember, evil prevails when good people do nothing.
He's counting on us to give up. Let's prove him wrong.
100% credit goes to u/jbsosbj for the FOI request information, just wanted to condense everything in one post to make it easier for everyone to fight back.