Jody Toor says she will present a petition in the legislature calling on the provincial government to scrap proposed changes to access-to-information laws that critics argue would reduce transparency.

Toor, the Conservative critic for citizen services, said the petition — organized by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation — has garnered thousands of signatures from British Columbians opposed to Bill 9, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026.

She said the petition reflects concern that the legislation would make it harder for the public to obtain government records and hold officials accountable.

“I am calling on the government to withdraw Bill 9 and commit to transparency and accountability,” Toor said in a statement. “It is important for democracy that people have the right to know what their government is doing.”

The proposed bill would introduce new fees for access-to-information requests and expand the government’s authority to decline them, according to critics. Toor said the legislation lacks clear criteria for when requests can be refused, raising concerns it could be applied broadly.

She also linked the proposal to broader concerns about government spending and accountability, questioning whether the changes would limit public scrutiny of how taxpayer dollars are used.

The British Columbia Legislative Assembly is expected to receive the petition in the coming days.

The provincial government has said previous changes to access-to-information laws are intended to improve efficiency and manage demand, though it has not publicly responded to the latest criticism at the time of writing.