VICTORIA, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation delivered more than 10,000 petition signatures to the B.C. legislature, calling on the provincial government to scrap Bill 9, which proposes to undermine provincial freedom-of-information law. 

“The B.C. NDP is rolling back the public’s right to know,” said Carson Binda, B.C. Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Politicians from all parties need to show they’re accountable to taxpayers by opposing Bill 9.” 

Bill 9 waters down the government’s requirement to respond to freedom-of-information requests “without delay;” instead requiring a response “without reasonable delay,” leaving it up to the government to decide what’s reasonable. It also gives public bodies more power to deny requests they don’t want to answer. 

“Premier David Eby is attacking the public’s right to know because he keeps getting caught wasting taxpayers’ money,” Binda said. “Now 10,000 B.C. taxpayers are calling on Eby to stop his attack on the public’s right to know.”

A number of high-profile spending scandals obtained through FOI requests have shaken taxpayers’ faith in the provincial government’s accountability. 

Senior provincial bureaucrats were caught billing taxpayers for $1,200 per month vehicle leases. For comparison, a 2026 Range Rover Evoque S leases for $926 per month. 

Finance Minister Brenda Bailey billed taxpayers $6,600 for an SUV-limousine during a four-day, self-described “junket” in Boston. 

The province wasted $164,000 on 1,000 cups of coffee as part of a public relations stunt in Seattle. 

B.C. Conservative Citizens’ Services critic Jody Toor accepted the petition to table in the legislature. Citizens’ Services Minister Diana Gibson chose not to attend the petition delivery. 

“It’s disappointing that the provincial government is trying to strip away the public’s right to know,” Binda said. “Toor and the opposition stepped up and showed leadership by listening to taxpayers who want accountable government.”