CANADALAND Doug Ford’s Secret, Private, Personal Cell Phone
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Mar 20, 2026 Max Fawcett, lead columnist at Canada’s National Observer who covers provincial politics and freedom of information, breaks down rising government secrecy. He discusses Ford’s new FOI exemptions and Alberta’s information failures. They explore why scandals stick politically, how partisan media bubbles shield leaders, and how journalists can make accountability stories resonate.
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Ford's FOI Exemption Shields Premier Records
- Doug Ford's government moved to exempt the premier and ministers from Freedom of Information, hiding emails and memos from public view.
- San Grewal notes Ford justified it by citing a threat from 'communist Chinese' infiltration as a pretext for secrecy.
Alberta Restricted FOI And Limited Oversight
- Max Fawcett highlights Alberta's government broke its own FOI rules and passed 2024 legislation limiting challenges to the privacy commissioner.
- He says internal political deliberations are being placed behind walls deliberately to prevent public access.
Public Apathy Comes From Assumed Political Corruption
- Max argues the public often doesn't react to corruption because many assume politicians are corrupt by default.
- He says democratic principle arguments rarely motivate voters compared with self-interest like pocketbook issues.