Ford government takes fight to court to stop release of blue licence plate documents

The Ontario government is going to court to block the release of documents surrounding its failed attempt to bring in blue licence plates several years ago.

The province is asking a judge to review the Ontario Privacy Commissioner’s decision that the information should be released.

This is Premier Doug Ford’s latest attempt to block access to government records following its recent Freedom of Information law changes.

The opposition says it raises serious issues around government transparency.

When Ford showed off his new licence plates in 2020, his government said it was refreshing the plates and refreshing its approach to government.

The blue plate release didn’t last long, after police pointed out they were difficult to read at night, but six years later, Ford is sticking with his approach to government.

“Number one comment: keep going, ignore the media,” said Ford, “ignore all the radicals.”

READ MORE: Ontario’s plan to get rid of blue licence plates is to sit back and wait

But the opposition at Queen’s Park says Ford is not clear about what he doesn’t want the public to see in government files around the licence plate cancellation.

At the same time, he’s changing Freedom of Information laws to keep other government records secret.

“This premier is laser focused on one thing and one thing only, and that is covering his own behind,” said Opposition Leader Marit Stiles. “What is so bad in those records that the premier is ready to put our province’s future at risk to hide it?”

“Every time accountability catches up to this government, they change the rules,” said Liberal MPP Stephanie Smyth. “So avoiding anything that gives transparency, now with the blue licence plates, today.”

“So you think they get low and they get even lower,” said Ford.

Ford says he’s protecting things like the private information of all the people who call his cellphone and adopting the same Freedom of Information laws as other governments.

WATCH MORE: Ontario considering ‘outright ban’ on cellphones on school properties

“I’m following the same rules as the federal government or all of the other provinces,” said Ford. “It’s simple — that’s the answer.”

The opposition leader says this is really about Ford’s plan to remove land from the Greenbelt before that plan was cancelled, just like the licence plates.

“The Premier knows perfectly well what he’s trying to hide — he’s trying to hide information that’s connected to his dealings with the Greenbelt developers,” said Stiles. “That is what people have asked for to see, that is what the courts have ruled that he is to share. Why is he trying to hide it? Because there’s something he needs to hide.”

“So if the Premier wants to end this conversation, just be honest with people,” said Mike Schreiner, the leader of the Green Party. “What are you trying to hide? What is on that cellphone?”

As for people who have the new plates, Hamilton Police say, “blue plates remain valid provided they are in good standing,” and when the owner, “purchases a new vehicle or transfers plates to another vehicle, a new white licence plate will be issued.”

Ontario Provincial Police told CHCH News Monday that the blue plates are legal and they will do their job and investigate crime, no matter what colour the licence plates are.

READ MORE: Ford government goes to court to fight FOI disclosure of blue licence plate documents