Democracy dies behind a locked vault door. In a recent late-night session at Queen’s Park, the Ontario government permanently blocked the public from seeing how decisions are made about the province’s most vital landscapes.
To paddle the sprawling reaches of Lake Temagami—known as dimii-agamiing, or “deep water by the shore,” to the Teme-Augama Anishnabai—just before the winter freeze, is to witness an ecosystem stripped to its core. The frigid, dark water reflects the bare shoreline with absolute clarity, and the harsh landscape hides nothing. Yet, the contrast between the stark honesty of the water’s edge and the suffocating secrecy of the province’s political center has never been more jarring. Last month, under the cover of a late-night legislative session, the provincial government forced Bill 97 into law. It is a dense piece of parliamentary maneuvering with a profound impact on the very soil and waterways conservationists fight to protect.
This legislation fundamentally rewrites freedom of information laws. It retroactively exempts records held by the Premier, cabinet ministers, and their staff from public scrutiny. It is a heavy vault door slammed shut on the right of every citizen to know how land-use decisions are made. By making these changes retroactive, the law effectively kills ongoing court cases. It buries requests for the Premier’s personal phone logs tied directly to the Greenbelt development scandal, where vast tracts of protected land were controversially carved up for private interests.
For observers who document the reality of the landscape, the rule is simple. If officials cover the camera lens, they do not want the picture taken. If there is nothing to hide, leaders do not go to such extraordinary lengths to conceal their tracks. There is an endless appetite for rapid land development at play here, driving a deliberate silencing of those who ask questions. It is an imbalance that prioritizes immediate gain over the long-term health of the environment and the public trust.
Because of these maneuvers, Ontario is now less transparent than almost any other jurisdiction in the country. In a healthy environment, whether ecological or democratic, transparency is an essential right. The public deserves a government that leads with integrity, where representatives remain accountable to the citizens and the land they serve.
Lighting the Local Trail
The wilderness thrives in the light, and communities must do the same. While citizens cannot easily unlock the vault at the provincial legislature, they can illuminate the spaces closer to home. Observers can start by attending local conservation authority meetings or municipal zoning boards. Demand clear records of how land development decisions are made in your own backyard. Support grassroots environmental journalism that relies on public records to expose the truth. By demanding honesty at the local level, communities can protect the roots of their green spaces from the rot of secrecy.