Ontario’s licence plate switch has prompted criticism that the province is operating in a “secrecy-by-default” manner, according to reporting citing responses from privacy and oversight bodies. The controversy centers on Ontario’s earlier plan to address visibility problems associated with blue licence plates. Sources say the Information and Privacy Commissioner ordered the release of documents earlier this year related to that government plan. Critics argue the government resisted transparency and that withholding or delaying records prevented the public from understanding how and when changes to the plates were considered and implemented. The reporting indicates the issue is being framed as part of a broader dispute over access to government information and compliance with privacy oversight requirements. The province’s actions and the timing of record releases are at the center of the debate, with commentators pointing to the commissioner’s direction as evidence that additional documentation should be made available. The current state of the licence plate policy and the specific operational details of the reversal are addressed through the documents under discussion, as reported by the outlets involved.