Ford government used code words to make it ‘unduly difficult’ to search Greenbelt records: report

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government has come under fire for failing to meet its legal obligations when it comes to record-keeping, particularly in relation to the controversial decision to open up parts of the protected Greenbelt lands for housing. The province’s information and privacy commissioner, Patricia Kosseim, found that political staff within the government used code words to avoid document requests and left a surprisingly small paper trail for such a significant policy change.

In her annual report, Kosseim highlighted a number of freedom-of-information appeals that revealed systemic issues within the government’s handling of Greenbelt-related requests. She emphasized the importance of proper record-keeping, stating that when key decisions are not adequately documented, transparency suffers, and public trust is eroded.

One of the concerning practices identified by Kosseim was the use of code words such as “special project,” “GB,” and “G**” in communications related to the Greenbelt. These code words made it difficult to search for relevant records, with the term “G**” being particularly problematic due to its use of an asterisk as a wildcard in text searches.

Furthermore, Kosseim noted a surprising lack of documentation regarding the Greenbelt decision-making process, which raised concerns about transparency. Despite evidence of discussions and meetings involving government staff, there was a dearth of documentation outlining what was said or decided during these conversations.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is currently investigating the government’s decision to remove parcels of land from the Greenbelt for housing development, a move that has been criticized for favoring certain developers. Premier Doug Ford’s office has stated that steps have been taken to improve record-keeping practices, including training sessions for staff on managing records in compliance with legal requirements.

Opposition leader Marit Stiles of the NDP called for accountability, pointing out that previous incidents of government staff deleting records have resulted in criminal charges. Stiles emphasized the need for consequences for the government’s failure to meet its legal obligations in relation to the Greenbelt decision.

Overall, the findings of the information and privacy commissioner’s report underscore the importance of transparency and accountability in government decision-making processes. The government’s handling of the Greenbelt issue serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of inadequate record-keeping and the impact it can have on public trust.