Sean Conroy

Respecting the Taxpayer: A Call for Fiscal Prudence

Friends and fellow Ontarians,
Recent reports from the Auditor General highlight a deeply concerning trend regarding our provincial finances.

The current administration has spent record amounts of your money on government advertising, with a significant portion directed toward partisan messaging. Last year alone, nearly 112 million dollars were allocated to these campaigns.

These taxpayer funded promotions are everywhere, spanning television broadcasts, digital media, and radio ads. We're sure you've seen and heard them.

At a time when our province faces a massive deficit and our neighbours are looking for financial relief, using public funds for self promotion is fiscally irresponsible. Whether it is advertising for the Ontario Place redevelopment or broad promotional campaigns trying to polish the image of the governing party, these expenditures represent misplaced priorities.

The Ontario Libertarian Party firmly believes in respecting the taxpayer. Public funds should be strictly reserved for essential services and vital public information, not political marketing.

True leadership is demonstrated through sound policy and fiscal prudence, not costly commercials funded by the public purse.

It is time for a more principled approach to our provincial budget. We must restore strict oversight to government advertising and ensure that every dollar collected from Ontarians is treated with the utmost respect.

Let us work together toward a government that prioritizes fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, and complete transparency.

Sean Conroy

Ways to Support the Ontario Libertarian Party

Are you looking to make a positive impact in our province?

Growing the Ontario Libertarian Party and promoting the Blueprint for a Free Ontario takes a province wide team effort. Whether you have a lot of time to give or just a few seconds, there are many ways you can support our movement.

Here are some of the best ways to get involved and help us succeed:

Become a Member: Joining the party is the foundational step. Your membership adds to our voice and allows you to participate directly in our democratic processes.

Make a Donation: Financial support is crucial for reaching more Ontarians. Did you know your contributions come with significant benefits? Thanks to Ontario political contribution tax credits, you can receive a generous return on your donation when you file your taxes, maximizing the impact of your gift.

Engage on Social Media: One of the easiest and most effective ways to support us costs absolutely nothing. Liking, commenting on, and sharing our posts helps defeat the algorithm and gets our message in front of new eyes. Every interaction counts!

Build Locally with Constituency Associations: All politics is local. We are actively encouraging members to get involved at the community level. You can join an existing Constituency Association or step up to help create one in your riding. Local associations are the engine of our party, connecting neighbours and building local outreach.

Together, we can bring the vision of the Blueprint for a Free Ontario to life. Thank you for your continued dedication to our province!

ontariolibertarian.ca

𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐱: 𝘈 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘖𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰'𝘴 2026 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴

The introduction of the Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act 2024 (Bill 194) and the subsequent March 2026 legislative amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act represent the most significant overhaul of Ontario's transparency and privacy framework since 1988. Framed by the Progressive Conservative government under Premier Doug Ford as an essential modernization effort, these reforms have ignited a necessary debate regarding the balance between executive confidentiality and public accountability.

At the heart of this legislative shift is a dual track strategy. We see the implementation of robust and long overdue cybersecurity and artificial intelligence guardrails, coupled with a categorical exclusion of the political executive from the province's access to information regime. As we review these changes, it is vital to explore the technical, legal, and democratic implications of these policies.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦
The original framework was enacted in an era defined by paper records. The existing system presented unnecessary privacy risks and failed to reflect modern technology. The government's justification for the 2026 reforms rests on the premise that the shift toward digital first governance necessitated a structural recalibration.

While the cybersecurity and artificial intelligence provisions seek to bolster public trust in digital services, the simultaneous shielding of the Premier and cabinet ministers from freedom of information requests is deeply concerning. This complex layering of new security obligations alongside narrowed access rights creates a modernization paradox.

𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞
The most controversial element of the 2026 reforms is the total exclusion of the offices of the Premier, cabinet ministers, and parliamentary assistants from the freedom of information framework. Under the previous system, administrative records and communications not explicitly protected by narrow exemptions were accessible to the public.

The government defends this exclusion by invoking the Westminster tradition of cabinet confidentiality, arguing it ensures candid conversations without public exposure. However, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, Patricia Kosseim, has rightly noted that the previous framework already provided robust protections for confidential cabinet records. The transition from a content based exemption to an office based exclusion represents a fundamental shift away from transparency. 𝘈 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦.

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲
The administrative mechanics of transparency are also significantly altered by the shift in response timelines. The transition from 30 calendar days to 45 business days effectively doubles the time the public must wait for government information. The government frames this extension as a necessary response to complex requests, but in a digital world, information retrieval should theoretically be faster. This move creates a buffer that prevents the release of information during fast moving political events, weakening the immediate impact of public interest reporting on government decision making.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚𝐰
Perhaps the most legally significant aspect of the 2026 legislative package is the explicit retroactive application of the freedom of information exclusions. This provision ensures that the new secrecy rules apply not only to future requests but also to any requests currently in processing or under appeal.

This retroactive clause appears to interfere with several high profile legal battles over government transparency, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. By changing the law retroactively, the government effectively legislates its way out of prior rulings. This raises profound questions about the rule of law in Canada, as the government uses its legislative majority to override the independent adjudication of the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the judiciary.

𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞
While the transparency changes are troubling, the new Enhancing Digital Security and Trust Act is designed to address the increasing threat of cyber attacks on critical public infrastructure. The mandate for vital public services, including hospitals and school boards, to implement standardized cybersecurity practices is a positive step. Moving away from a fragmented approach where individual institutions are responsible for their own defence is a practical improvement.

Furthermore, providing the first formal provincial framework for the use of artificial intelligence in the public sector is necessary. Public sector entities must now disclose artificial intelligence use, manage risks, and establish strict guardrails to protect data. However, there is a notable irony here. While the public sector must be transparent in its use of automated systems, the political actors directing those systems remain opaque. The public will have more information than ever about how an algorithm made a decision, but less information about why a minister chose to use that algorithm.

𝐀 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨
As we navigate these changes, our focus remains on a practical Blueprint for a Free Ontario. A core pillar of this platform is absolute government accountability and transparency. The people of Ontario deserve a government that is open by default, not closed by location. The creation of a shadow bureaucracy, where personal devices and excluded offices are used to evade public scrutiny, is unacceptable in a modern democracy.

_____

The 2026 legislative overhaul offers a clearer view of the bureaucracy's security protocols but a much dimmer view of the political decisions that shape our lives. The core of the modernization effort regarding cybersecurity is a timely response to the digital threats of our current decade. However, this technical trust is offset by a severe deficit in democratic trust.

Freedom of information is a fundamental right essential for upholding a healthy democracy. The 2026 legislative package represents a fundamental repositioning of the executive branch, setting a restrictive precedent for transparency in Canada. We must continue to advocate for a system where accountability is not just a promise, but a legally enforceable standard.

Sean Conroy
Leader of the Ontario Libertarian Party

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As the leader of the Ontario Libertarian Party and an advocate for Electorial Reform, I strongly support this initiative!

Declaration of Voters' Rights on Proportional Representation / Déclaration des droits des électeurs en matière de représentation proportionnelle We the undersigned Canadian citizens demand the following basic democratic rights: to cast an equal and effective vote and to be represented fairly in our federal and provincial legislatures, regardless of one’s political beliefs or place of residence; to be governed by fairly elected legislatures...

"But you’ve never won a seat."

We hear it often. In a system like ours, success is usually measured by how many chairs you occupy in the Legislature. But if we only judge a movement by its seats, we ignore how political change actually happens in Ontario.

Here is the reality of being a principled grassroots party:

The Barrier is the Design... Our First Past The Post system is a winner take all model. You can have hundreds of thousands of supporters across the province, but if they aren't concentrated in one specific riding, the system grants you zero representation. This does not mean your ideas are unpopular; it means the system is designed to protect the status quo from new competition.

Winning the Argument Before the Seat... History shows that minor parties are the policy incubators of democracy. We raise the issues the big parties are too afraid to touch, such as ending government monopolies, stopping taxpayer funded subsidies for politicians, and defending your property rights. When the major parties start borrowing our rhetoric to appeal to voters, we are winning the argument even before we take the seat.

A Vote is a Signal Not a Wager... Many people treat their vote like a bet on a horse race, fearing that voting for a minor party is "wasted." But a vote for a Libertarian is not a wasted vote. It is a clear signal to the establishment that you are tired of the "lesser of two evils." It is the only way to demand a real alternative.

The lack of a seat is not a sign of failure; it is a sign of how hard the establishment works to keep us out. We are not just running for seats... We are running to change the direction of this province.

The first seat is always the hardest to win. But every vote brings us closer to breaking the cycle.

Join us ontariolibertarian.ca

To my friends and neighbours in York-Simcoe,

​From the Holland Marsh to our manufacturing shops in Bradford and Georgina, our community has always been defined by people who know how to build, grow, and provide. But lately, it feels like our hard work is being treated as a bargaining chip for politicians in Toronto and Ottawa.

​We see it every day... One sector is used as leverage against another in trade deals, while our local small businesses are suffocated by $18 billion worth of unnecessary red tape.

Whether it is the new 2026 mandates forcing entrepreneurs to spend more time on paperwork than on their customers, or "protectionist" policies that actually make our local economy more fragile, the system is failing us.

​I am sharing this today because it is time we stop looking for a government "handout" and start demanding our freedom back.

We don’t need the government to pick winners and losers in York-Simcoe; we need them to get out of the way so our farmers, builders, and innovators can do what they do best.

​Let’s stop being pawns in their political games.

Let’s unleash the true potential of York-Simcoe and all of Ontario.