Colin D'Mello | Global News

EXCLUSIVE: The Ford government has spent five years, and an untold amount in taxpayers dollars, fighting to keep their 2018 mandate letters a secret. Here - in full - are all 24 sets of directives, leaked to and verified by Global News. globalnews.ca/news/9942332/o… #onpoli

From the Globe and Mail's Robyn Urback: "The deluge of inconsequential announcements seems intended to distract from the Premier’s move to change freedom of information laws to exempt himself, his cabinet ministers and their offices from public requests." theglobeandmail.com/opinion/articl… #onpoli

The news release form Unifor doesn't mention any intervention by the Ford government but, as we learned through the Diageo closure process, the premier's office was likely given a heads up. (That information was also discovered through an FOI) #onpoli

Unifor says a mining service company, based in Mississauga, is shutting its doors and moving operations to China. 40 jobs lost, the union says. #onpoli

After nearly 8 years in power, Premier Doug Ford has become increasingly concerned about growing crime rates in his province. This has led to new calls for residents to essentially take self defence into their own hands: • Ford said its not unlawful to carry a knife • The province is advocating for pepper spray for personal use, warning that without them women could be at risk in Ontario • Ford is calling on homeowners with weapons to use them when under attack. #onpoli

Premier Doug Ford congratulates a Vaughan homeowner for shooting suspects during a home invasion. “Should have shot him a couple of more times,” Ford says. Canadian self defence laws have limits: if the action was disproportionate, or used more force than was necessary, an individual could still face charges. #onpoli

NEW: Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has dropped to 31%, according to Angus Reid’s latest rankings. That’s a 17 point drop from one year ago. #onpoli

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has acknowledged his government is clamping down on access to information laws to shield government-related calls he makes and receives on his personal phone. globalnews.ca/news/11734575/… #onpoli

FLOOD THE ZONE: Critics in Ontario say a flurry of government announcements on justice, alcohol and roads is designed to distract from sweeping changes the Ford government is planning to apply to FOI laws. globalnews.ca/news/11735233/… #onpoli

Premier Doug Ford admits his government's retroactive changes to the Freedom of Information act laws is about "personal cell phones." globalnews.ca/news/11733205/… #onpoli

"The premier is trying to hide his text messages from the people of Ontario," NDP Leader Marit Stiles says. "Why is the premier working so hard to hide his cell phone records, what does he have to hide?" #onpoli

NDP Leader Marit Stiles says Premier Doug Ford is trying to distract from the FOI issue by talking about booze at festivals and bear spray. "He's fighting pretty damn hard to hide those cell phone records and the people of Ontario have a right to know." #onpoli

Premier Doug Ford on the shortened session of the legislature. "We're going to have a long session, I think it goes all the way to June." In fact, it's not a long session. The legislature was supposed to return after Family Day -- the government delayed it until late-March. The fall session was also shortened. #onpoli

"It's not illegal to carry a knife," Premier Doug Ford says. "What is illegal is if you use it in a manner that you shouldn't be using it." Ford is calling on the federal government to approve pepper spray for personal defence. #onpoli

Premier Doug Ford says the federal government "can get away with murder" and the media stays quiet - but finds questions from Ontario journalists about an Ontario government decision unfair. "I guess there's double standards and that's fine," Ford says. #onpoli

Contrary to what the Premier says - this is NOT about constituency calls. This is about who has influence over Premier Doug Ford and whether his cell phone is used for unregistered lobbying. #onpoli

This is the admission. Premier Doug Ford - who was compelled by an Ontario court to turn over his cell phone records says "personal cellphones" should be exempt from public disclosure. globalnews.ca/news/11733205/…

NEW: Premier Doug Ford says his FOI changes are about "personal cellphones." "When it comes to conversation within cabinet and on personal cell phones that should not be FOIable," Ford says. #onpoli

Premier Doug Ford, once again insists, that his government's changes to the FOI rules are due to Canada's "adversaries." "Be it China, North Korea, Russia and if anyone thinks that they aren't on to us." #onpoli

The Ford government appears to be silent on how much its years-long battle to protect the premier’s cellphone records from release has cost the taxpayer, as it moves to change the law and potentially nullify its latest legal defeat. globalnews.ca/news/11733962/… #onpoli