Published • loading... • Updated
Ontario's More Restrictive Transparency Law Nixes Request for Health Minister Records
The retroactive exemption also blocks requests tied to hospitals’ deficit plans as more than 70% of Ontario hospitals forecast shortfalls.
- On Thursday, Ontario's new freedom-of-information law retroactively blocked public access to government records, quashing a request by The Canadian Press regarding hospital deficit plans.
- More than 70 per cent of Ontario hospitals face deficits, prompting Health Minister Sylvia Jones to mandate three-year balancing plans despite government funding falling short of hospital needs.
- The Ministry of Health allowed a 90-day extension deadline to pass without releasing documents, then cited the new law retroactive to 1988 as justification for blocking the records.
- Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner called the denial "anti-democratic," while NDP Leader Marit Stiles warned this sets a precedent for future transparency denials on government spending decisions.
- A spokesperson for Jones claimed the changes "will not impact patient care," yet the legislation also restricts access to records concerning the Greenbelt scandal, raising questions about broader accountability.
Insights by Ground AI
14 Articles
14 Articles
The Toronto Star+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Ontario’s more restrictive transparency law nixes request for health minister records
TORONTO - Ontario's new and more restrictive freedom-of-information laws have quashed another request, this time for documents that may have given a glimpse into potential hospital cuts.
·Toronto, Canada
Read Full Article
Winnipeg Free Press+9 Reposted by 9 other sources
Ontario's more restrictive transparency law nixes request for health minister records
TORONTO - Ontario's new and more restrictive freedom-of-information laws have quashed another request, this time for documents that may have given a glimpse into potential hospital cuts.
·Winnipeg, Canada
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left8Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Left
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Left
67% Left
L 67%
C 33%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
