The Ontario transparency watchdog has strongly condemned the Ford government’s recent proposal to modify freedom of information laws, deeming it a 'shocking' approach aimed at concealing the premier's cellphone records from public scrutiny. This new policy, unveiled on Friday, seeks to retroactively block the release of communications involving the premier, government ministers, and their staff through access to information requests. The intention behind this policy change is perceived as a means to protect the government from disclosing essential documents, particularly in light of a recent legal setback in a battle over transparency.