As a resident of Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, I’m deeply concerned that our MPP, John Jordan, recently voted in favor of Bill 97, the Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2026.
While the name sounds positive, the bill contains "hidden" amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) that should worry every voter:
Hiding Minister Records: It ensures records in a Minister’s office are generally exempt from public disclosure unless they are also held by another institution.
Retroactive Power: These changes are retroactive to January 1, 1988. This essentially invalidates current FOI requests and wipes away past court decisions that ruled in favor of transparency.
Reduced Oversight: The Information and Privacy Commissioner has warned that this weakens independent oversight and makes it harder for the public to scrutinize government communications and technology use.
I feel John Jordan has prioritized party secrecy over the best interests of his constituents. Transparency is the backbone of a healthy democracy—why is our representative voting to keep us in the dark?