Election-Year Pressures in Ontario: The Growing Need for Efficiency in FOI Processing
By Shaun McIver
CEO, Vayle
Municipal election years frequently bring a marked increase in FOI requests, as public attention shifts to not only contentious policy matters but also the records that reflect transparency and accountability in local governance, including council attendance, voting histories, and internal deliberations. These requests are often broader in scope and more sensitive in content, increasing both administrative workload and legal risk.
With Ontario’s 2026 municipal elections less than a year away, now is the time to prepare. Strengthening FOI operations today can help municipalities meet increased demand, maintain compliance with MFIPPA, and deliver consistent service under heightened scrutiny. Modern FOI software offers a scalable, future-ready way to do so.
Many FOI Departments Are Already Under Pressure
Even under typical circumstances, processing FOI requests is a complex and time-sensitive task. During election periods, this pressure intensifies as media outlets, watchdog organizations, and engaged residents become more active and inquisitive. For smaller municipalities, often operating without the specialized resources or in-house expertise of larger jurisdiction, the added demands of an election year can place significant strain on already limited capacity.
According to Vayle’s most recent State of FOI and Privacy Report, a majority of Ontario municipalities saw a year-over-year increase in FOI volume in 2024, yet only 10% received any corresponding budget increase. Most still rely on PDFs, spreadsheets, Word documents, and email to manage requests, often with just one or two staff responsible for the entire process.
In response to FOI surges, municipalities reported three primary strategies, in order of frequency:
- Deprioritizing other initiatives
- Extending staff hours or relying on overtime
- Requesting time extensions under MFIPPA
While understandable, these reactive measures disrupt other programs, increase internal costs, and may erode citizen trust in transparency.
A Trusted AMO Partner
As the FOI software partner of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Vayle is proud to support municipalities of all sizes with tools that strengthen transparency, reduce compliance risk, and create lasting operational efficiencies, particularly in the lead-up to an election year. Headquartered in Toronto, Vayle is a Canadian-owned company, committed to serving the unique needs of the Canadian public sector.
If your municipality is preparing for higher request volumes, tighter timelines, or greater public scrutiny, we’d be happy to show you what Vayle can do.
Learn more about the AMO/LAS Freedom of Information (FOI) Solutions service offered through Vayle.