Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s cellphone records took centre stage as the provincial legislature resumed sitting Monday for the first time since December, with the opposition accusing the premier of having something to hide.

One of the many pieces of legislation the government has signalled it will introduce during the spring sitting is a bill to exempt records of the premier, cabinet ministers, their staff and parliamentary assistants from disclosure under freedom-of-information laws.

Ford, who has often boasted about his government’s transparency, said it just follows what other provinces have already done.

“We should have moved a lot quicker on this,” Ford said during question period.

“There are two groups that are concerned about it. The opposition — they should talk to their federal partners — and the media. Everyone else is focused on something else. They’re focused on the economy, about jobs, fighting President Trump.”

Government focused on hiding phone records, NDP says

NDP Leader Marit Stiles said there is someone else who is focused on Ford’s cellphone records — Ford.

“Seems like he cares a whole lot about it, since that seems to be a major focus of his government, returning the legislature,” she said after question period.

“This government is focused on hiding the premier’s cellphone records, and we know that there must be something pretty damning in those records if they’re taking these kinds of measures to hide those cellphone records.”

Stiles has filed a request for a Speaker’s warrant, a little-used tool, to compel the production of Ford’s cellphone records as they relate to government business. It is not clear if that would work, Stiles acknowledged.

The Speaker has said the type of non-binding motion Stiles filed could not result in a Speaker’s warrant.

Ford has repeatedly suggested that if his phone records were made public it would jeopardize the personal and health information of residents who contact him for help. The existing law already prevents that type of information from being disclosed, the information and privacy commissioner has said.

Unregistered lobbying at issue, Green Party says

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said Ford’s conversations with ordinary Ontarians aren’t what is at issue, rather it is whether unregistered lobbying is taking place.

“This is a government that has a history of scandals, the $8.3 billion Greenbelt scandal, the skills development slush fund scandal, and now they see a premier hiding who he’s talking to, hiding the wealthy and well-connected people who are reaching out to him, influencing government decisions,” he said.

The FOI clampdown comes as Global News fights a long battle for access to Ford’s call records, which the information and privacy commissioner has said should be public since the premier uses his personal phone for government business. A court earlier this year threw out an attempt by the government to overrule the IPC ruling.

The proposed new law would apply retroactively.

Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser said it seems like the premier is avoiding accountability and scrutiny because he has something to hide.

“We have those laws to protect our democracy, to make sure people are informed, that they can make great decisions about what they do at election time,” he said.