Ontario Premier Doug Ford's recent changes to the Freedom of Information (FOI) system have sparked controversy, but according to columnist Brian Lilley, these alterations will not impact the RCMP investigation into the Greenbelt land swap. Lilley criticizes NDP Leader Marit Stiles for making what he calls 'wild claims' that Bill 97 could allow the government to destroy evidence related to the probe.
Stiles' Concerns Dismissed
Marit Stiles wrote letters to the RCMP and Cabinet Secretary Michelle DiEmanuele, expressing fears that the Ford government might delete or destroy records pertinent to the investigation. However, Lilley asserts that the FOI changes do not alter the legal requirement to preserve evidence in an active police investigation. The RCMP launched their probe in October 2023, and any necessary phone or text records are likely already in their possession.
'Stiles is either showing she doesn’t understand how the system works or she is purposely misleading,' Lilley writes. He emphasizes that DiEmanuele, an experienced public servant, would have already secured any records the police might need.
FOI Reforms and Evidence Preservation
The reforms bring Ontario's FOI system closer to federal standards, where similar rules have not led to democratic crises. Lilley points out that even under the old rules, Ford's phone records with private citizens, such as real estate developers, would not have been released. The FOI system is designed to disclose government actions, not private interactions.
'The push to release Ford’s phone records via the FOI system has two origins,' Lilley explains: a doctor who believes he was fired over a call, and a request by Global News to examine Ford's phone records from November 2022 for Greenbelt evidence. Both attempts rely on the assumption that Ford engaged in misconduct, but the system protects private communications.
Political Spin Undermines Credibility
Lilley acknowledges that the FOI changes are not ideal, but he argues that Stiles' exaggerated claims damage her credibility. 'There is plenty to critique the Ford government on, including with these FOI changes, but spinning this into something it’s not is beneath the leader of the opposition,' he writes.
Stiles' letters to the RCMP and DiEmanuele urge them to retain all records, but Lilley maintains that the investigation is already underway and evidence is secure. He concludes that making false claims undermines the opposition's position, not the government's.
