Ford’s attacks on the media weaken our democracy

If there’s one thing Doug Ford wants you to believe, it’s that he’s here “for the people” of Ontario.

That was his slogan in the recent provincial election. It’s been his favourite mantra since being sworn in as premier, too.

But unless Ford stops trying to muzzle, obstruct and even ignore the people’s messenger — the news media of this province — his fine words will mean nothing.

Whether he’s paranoid or just likes to feel in control, Ford’s doing his best to interfere with reporters trying to do their job or, just as troubling, using tax dollars to execute an end run around them and deliver his own, carefully contrived propaganda “for the people.”

It’s becoming commonplace, for instance, for paid provincial government staffers to drown out reporters’ questions at press conferences by applauding loudly.

This happened last Thursday when dozens of government workers stood among reporters and “clapped out” journalists trying to get information about the government’s plans to fight gun violence in Toronto.

The same thing occurred a week earlier when Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod announced changes to the province’s welfare program.

And while the Progressive Conservatives’ party line seems to be that the staffers are acting on their own, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has complained that a press conference “is supposed to be for the press, not for a group of hangers-on to create a ruckus.”

“Clapping out” reporters is far from being a trivial irritation to the province’s news media. Nor is it an isolated tactic.

Since Ford became premier, the news media have been limited to asking roughly five questions in total during news conferences. That’s significantly less than what the previous Liberal government allowed — and it’s unacceptable.

In addition, Ford’s PCs have launched “Ontario News Now,” a social media account on Twitter and Facebook to give their own version of the news and promote their agenda. And yes — you, the taxpayers, are paying to be spoon-fed their self-serving pabulum.

Ford has long accused journalists of lying and being biased against him. When running to become the PC leader earlier this year, he said the party needed someone who can “stand up to the media.”

But standing up to the media is different from standing on top of them and stomping — which is what Ford’s doing now.

Nor should the people of this province think the only harm being done is to a few Queen’s Park reporters.

This government is flagrantly attacking one of this country’s most cherished Charter rights — “freedom of the press.” Quite appropriately, that is deemed to be one of the Charter’s “Fundamental Freedoms” because it is essential to the integrity of all our other rights and, indeed, to Canadian democracy itself.

The people of Ontario, who Ford cites with such seeming passion, need a constant, free and trustworthy flow of information and commentary about the politicians in power.

And the sources of news and insight should be independent from the government because politicians, no matter how virtuous, want to put their own, happy spin on events.

Wise political leaders who are committed to public service and democracy, rather than narrow, partisan interests, realize this. They know the free press is and must be the servant of the governed, not the government. And they work with it even if they don’t always love it. It’s one of their duties to the public.

We can only hope Premier Ford will learn and act on this lesson.

Let Ontario’s press be free and do its job — “for the people.”