Ottawa residents and Ontarians across the province are sounding the alarm over new changes to freedom of information laws that critics say will make it significantly harder for the public — and journalists — to access government records.
A new poll conducted by Abacus Data on behalf of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) found that a clear majority of Ontarians are opposed to the Ford government's recent amendments to freedom of information (FOI) legislation. Just 24 per cent of respondents said they support the changes, while 60 per cent are against them.
What Are the Changes?
Freedom of information laws — formally known as the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) — give Canadians the legal right to request records held by government bodies. Journalists, researchers, opposition politicians, and everyday citizens rely on these tools to hold governments accountable.
The Ontario government's recent changes are widely seen as tightening the clamps on what can be requested and disclosed, raising concerns that the province is pulling back on transparency at a time when public trust in institutions is already fragile.
CUPE, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers in Ontario including many in the public sector, commissioned the poll to gauge public sentiment on the changes. The results are a clear rebuke: most people don't want less transparency from their government.
Why This Matters for Ottawa
For Ottawa, where federal and provincial politics overlap daily and where a large portion of residents work in or adjacent to government, access to public records isn't just an abstract principle — it's a practical necessity.
Local journalists, city councillors, and advocacy groups regularly use FOI requests to scrutinize decisions made at Queen's Park that directly affect the capital: transit funding, hospital investments, housing policy, and more. Restrictions at the provincial level ripple outward, making it harder for Ottawa newsrooms and community organizations to do their work.
Civil liberties advocates have warned that weakening FOI protections sets a troubling precedent — one that other provinces could follow.
Public Overwhelmingly on the Side of Transparency
The Abacus Data poll results aren't close. With 60 per cent opposed and only 24 per cent in favour, the numbers suggest the government badly misjudged public appetite for this kind of change.
Across party lines, Canadians have consistently told pollsters that they want more government transparency, not less. The right to know what elected officials are doing with public money and public power is foundational to a healthy democracy.
CUPE has been vocal in calling on the Ontario government to reverse the changes, arguing that workers and communities deserve to know how decisions that affect their lives are being made.
What Comes Next?
With poll numbers this stark, the pressure is now on Queen's Park to respond. Opposition parties at the legislature are expected to continue pushing back, and advocacy groups say they will keep the issue in the public eye.
For Ottawans who rely on accountable, transparent government — and who live in a city deeply intertwined with the machinery of public administration — these changes are worth watching closely.
Source: Global News Ottawa / Abacus Data poll conducted on behalf of CUPE.
