Making Government More Transparent
Wynne Becomes First Ontario Premier to Make Ministers’ Mandate Letters Public
For the first time ever, the mandate letters that will guide Ontario’s new government over the next four years are available to the public and posted online.
The letters — 30 in total — outline the specific priorities that each member of cabinet and their ministry will focus on, demonstrating the comprehensive, collaborative ways that Premier Kathleen Wynne’s economic plan is building Ontario up for today and tomorrow.
Premier Wynne released the letters today during a cabinet meeting in Sudbury. The unprecedented disclosure of ministers’ mandate letters is part of Premier Wynne’s Open Government Initiative, and brings Ontario one step closer to its goal of becoming the most open and transparent government in Canada.
All of the letters include an emphasis on meeting the government’s program-spending objectives and reinforce the commitment to eliminate the deficit by 2017-18.
The letters also emphasize the government’s collaborative approach. To support economic growth, job creation, and make a positive impact on the lives of everyone in Ontario, ministers are being directed to work with each other on overarching priorities, such as poverty reduction, skills training, building modern infrastructure and growing the economy.
“Ontarians want their government to work for them – and with them. Making the mandate letters public makes it easier for people to see what we are working on, and how we can work together to build better lives for everyone across Ontario.” Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario
Ministers are also directed to achieve these objectives by ensuring their ministries become more open and transparent, because heightening accountability and transparency across government will help ensure tax dollars are always spent wisely.
This is why the Open Government Initiative is an important part of Premier Wynne’s economic plan to build Ontario up by investing in people, building modern infrastructure, supporting a dynamic and innovative business climate, and building better retirement security for workers.
Quick Facts
- Ontario is adopting best practices that have been working in other jurisdictions to inform its approach to Open Government. Governments in Canada and about 60 other countries are implementing Open Government initiatives to improve transparency, effectiveness and accountability.
- People can visit Ontario.ca/open to see what the government is working on and learn how to get involved.
- The government has released a vast amount of data on the Open Data website which people can use to help dream up new business ideas and solve everyday problems.
