Dispatch - World Press Freedom Canada Dispatch provides key updates on press freedom issues in Canada and abroad. It keeps you informed about the challenges faced by journalists, highlights our advocacy efforts, and underscores the import...

A new edition of Dispatch is out today, from World Press Freedom Canada. Articles on J-schools, police obstruction of journos, access-to-info, and more.
worldpressfreedomcanada.ca/dispatch/
#cdnfoi #cdnpoli #media

Internal files show CTA to reduce $790 fee for passenger complaints after pressure from airlines, minister | CBC News Internal documents show airlines and then Transport Minister Anita Anand pressed the Canadian Transportation Agency to scale back a proposed complaints fee — raising concerns about political interfere...

Airlines to pay lower passenger complaints fee after pressure from industry & transport minister, access-to-info documents show
cbc.ca/news/gopubli... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

A secret worst-case scenario saw Trump’s tariffs jeopardizing $27B in housing and infrastructure projects While the warning, prepared for the federal housing minister last April, didn't come to pass, the housing sector remains shaken by the U.S. trade war.

A secret worst-case scenario saw Trump's tariffs jeopardizing $27B in housing and infrastructure projects. Document obtained under access-to-info. By Victoria Gibson. thestar.com/real-estate/... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

The RCMP, the spy and the betrayal of national chief George Manuel | CBC News A declassified copy of the RCMP Security Service's dossier on the precursor to the Assembly of First Nations reveals the use of spies, infiltration and physical and electronic surveillance targeting o...

The RCMP, the spy and the betrayal of national chief George Manuel. Story based on access-to-info documents. By CBC's
Brett Forester
cbc.ca/news/indigen... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #rcmp

Transport Canada warned about WestJet seating 'hazard' weeks before viral video: documents | CBC News A WestJet flight attendant alerted the federal government to an "imminent safety risk" and called for a "prompt review" after a passenger on a flight to Calgary in November became 'stuck in his seat' ...

Transport Canada warned about WestJet seating 'hazard' weeks before viral video: access-to-info documents. By
CBC's Julia Wong
cbc.ca/news/canada/... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Thx to access-to-info, we already know what this Monday event is about: "Media Advisory - Photo opportunity: Canada to return cultural property to the Republic of Türkiye" prn.to/47ugnxn #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Ontario's privacy and information access watchdog is fact checking Ford The Information and Privacy Commission sent out an update that “provides factual information in response to the various reasons that have since been offered for the proposed change" of FOI laws in Ont...

Ontario's privacy and information access watchdog is fact checking Ford
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/03/25/n... #CDNFOI #ONTfoi #ontpoli

Carney responds to Indigenous spying program investigation | CBC News The prime minister said there should be a public apology for a spying operation targeting hundreds of Indigenous people that had the support of the federal government.

Carney says apology needed for RCMP's Indigenous spying program in 1970s. (Story resulted from CBC access-to-info requests)
cbc.ca/news/politic... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #rcmp

Why Mounties paid 5 informers to spy on Dene leaders: Inside a secret surveillance operation | CBC News Dene leaders believe the RCMP Security Service in the 1970s broke into their office in Yellowknife, bugged it, stole and leaked material while aiming to discredit them via Operation Checkmate, a natio...

Access-to-info documents reveal RCMP paid five informers in 1970s to spy on Dene Nation leaders. cbc.ca/news/indigen... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #rcmp

Public safety minister calls report of RCMP spying on Indigenous leaders ‘deeply troubling’ Canada’s public safety minister says a damning investigation that exposed widespread RCMP surveillance of Indigenous people and organizations decades ago is “deeply disturbing” — and that discussions ...

Public safety minister cites access-to-info report about RCMP spying on Indigenous leaders as 'deeply troubling' thestar.com/politics/fed... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #rcmp

Privacy commissioner challenges Doug Ford’s reasons for changing access-to-information rules Information and privacy commissioner Patricia Kosseim has filed a six-point rebuttal to Premier Doug Ford's "various" reasons for exempting himself, his cabinet ministers and political aides from acce...

Ontario's information commissioner challenges Premier Doug Ford's reasons for tightening access-to-information rules, issuing 6-point rebuttal. thestar.com/politics/pro... #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli

Ford says privacy commissioner is ‘politically driven’ in opposing changes to FOI laws Records of premier, cabinet ministers, parliamentary assistants and their offices will no longer be subject to public disclosure, Ontario government has announced

Ford says Ont info commissioner is ‘politically driven’ in opposing changes to freedom-of-info laws. By CP's
Allison Jones
theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli

Most Americans Support Freedom of Information. Almost None Have Ever Used It. - Center for Public Interest Communications New research from UF's Brechner Project and Center for Public Interest Communications examines public attitudes, institutional trust, and what happens when FOI restrictions become personal Americans s...

An interesting FOI poll from Amerika - likely similar here. #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #foia

realgoodcenter.jou.ufl.edu/center-updat...

How RCMP spies infiltrated the 1970s Indigenous rights movement | CBC News A CBC Indigenous investigation has found the Cold War-era RCMP Security Service had a widespread and intrusive surveillance operation targeting at least 30 legitimate Indigenous political organization...

How RCMP spies infiltrated the 1970s Indigenous rights movement. "The documents were released in 2025 after four access to information requests. The federal government fought the requests in court, delaying the release for years."
cbc.ca/news/indigen... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

Doug Ford says he would handily win re-election as he defends keeping cellphone records secret Ontario's premier brushes off criticism of a plan to exempt himself and cabinet ministers from access to information laws.

Ont Premier Doug Ford says he would handily win re-election as he defends keeping his cellphone records secret, under proposed changes to freedom-of-info law. By
Robert Benzie & Moira Welsh
thestar.com/politics/pro... #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli

Ontario's Freedom of Information - A discussion on March 19th, 2026 youtu.be/g43qpOczsyQ?... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #cdnmedia

Behind the reporting: What's at stake in Canadian transparency tussles - Investigative Journalism Bureau One of the best ways to lose friends at a party is to bring up freedom-of-information legislation.  Try it the next time you want to escape an awkward social interaction. “Oh, that is so interesting. ...

Behind the reporting: What’s at stake in Canadian transparency tussles. An opinion piece on freedom of info by Anna Mehler Paperny ijb.utoronto.ca/news/reflect... #cdnfoi
#cdnpoli #cdnmedia

share.google

'We've had enough secrets': First Nations group opposes Ontario move to limit freedom-of-information laws share.google/MgIXUFAIc1aaWq… #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli

Opinion: Doug Ford has utterly wasted an extraordinary mandate Eight years of powerful majority government could have allowed the Premier to make meaningful change to Ontario. But what has he really achieved?

Ont. Premier Doug Ford has wasted a mandate. "... everyone knows that malicious Beijing operatives are filing FOI requests, waiting six years for a response, and then using that information nefariously against the people of Ontario"
theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... #cdnfoi #ontpoli #ontfoi

Ford’s freedom of information changes would ‘build a brick wall around the premier’s office’ Dean Beeby says Ontario’s proposed freedom of information changes would draw a ‘veil over the inner workings of government’ and keep ‘citizens in the dark.’

Ford's freedom of information changes would 'build a brick wall around the premier's office'
cp24.com/video/shows/... #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli

Vaughn Palmer: Information commissioner wrong in denying an NDP culture of secrecy Vaughn Palmer: Michael Harvey has been vocal is defending Bill 9, saying it does not materially damage access to B.C. government information

Vancouver Sun Op-Ed: B.C. Information commissioner wrong in denying an NDP culture of secrecy. By Vaughn Palmer.
vancouversun.com/opinion/colu... #cdnfoi #bcfoi #bcpoli

New substack from me: Looser rules in CRA's revamped tax-amnesty program attracting many more applicants deanbeeby.substack.com/p/cras-popul... #cdnfoi #cdnpoli #cra

New substack from me: Dimming the lights in Ontario - Ford's plan to curtail freedom-of-info open.substack.com/pub/deanbeeb... #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli

Martin Regg Cohn: Doug Ford drops a veil of secrecy over the inner workings of his government The premier has given himself a free pass to do as he pleases by changing FOI legislation.

TorStar OpEd: Doug Ford drops a veil of secrecy over the inner workings of his government www.thestar.com/politics/pol... #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli

'So much bull': Experts dismiss Ford's excuses for freedom of information overhaul On Friday, Ontario announced that the province plans to exempt the premier, cabinet ministers, parliamentary assistants and their offices from requests filed under the Freedom of Information and Prote...

Experts dismiss rationales for Ontario FOI changes as 'bull'
By @cloelogan.bsky.social
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/03/16/n... #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli

Doug Ford defends FOI changes, warns of enemies seeking government secrets Ford said he's tightening the laws to "protect" himself and his cabinet ministers from "communist China" and other hostile powers.

Ford gov't defends FOI changes. " ... over 95 per cent of what you’re able to access now you will still be able to access." Of course, that missing 5 per cent will be all about secret backroom deals with cronies.
thestar.com/politics/pro... #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli

Doug Ford defends FOI changes, warns of enemies seeking government secrets Ford said he's tightening the laws to "protect" himself and his cabinet ministers from "communist China" and other hostile powers.

Ford gov't defends FOI changes. " ... over 95 per cent of what you’re able to access now you will still be able to access." Of course, that missing 5 per cent will be all about secret backroom deals with cronies.
thestar.com/politics/pro... #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli

Opinion: Ontario steps back into the information dark ages The Ford government’s efforts to ‘modernize’ the province’s freedom of information laws just eviscerates public accountability

Ont returns to dark ages. By Patricia Kosseim, Ont info commissioner:
"If records about gov't business can be shielded from scrutiny simply because they sit in a minister’s office ... then public accountability is eviscerated."
theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli

Doug Ford says his cellphone records must remain hidden to protect privacy Last week his government announced that the Premier, cabinet ministers and their offices would no longer be subject to freedom of information requests

Ford says his cell records must remain immune to freedom-of-info requests to protect privacy. Bogus - the law already fully protects privacy, cabinet secrets, etc. This is really about insulating gov't from scrutiny. #cdnfoi #cdnpoli
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...

Manitoba’s U.S. trade rep paid $482K a year, contract shows | CBC News A former CTV and CBC reporter hired to serve as Manitoba’s trade envoy to the United States is taking home more than $480,000 Cdn a year in consulting fees, according to his contract with the province...

Manitoba’s U.S. trade rep paid $482K/yr
Richard Madan is being paid a consulting fee of $29,166.67 US per month for a total of $350,000 US per year: contract obtained through freedom of info
cbc.ca/news/canada/... #cdnfoi #mbafoi #mbapoli