The Ford Files is an independent editorial and public accountability project focused on the Ontario provincial government. We track documented government decisions, their fiscal impact, and the patterns that connect them — using public records, court rulings, Auditor General reports, and published journalism.
Every case on this site is built from publicly available evidence. We prioritize government documents, court rulings, and reports from independent oversight bodies (the Auditor General, the Financial Accountability Office, the Integrity Commissioner). Published journalism from established outlets provides additional context.
For a detailed look at our sourcing methodology, see How We Know.
This site is built and maintained by one person. AI tools, including large language models, are used in the development process for drafting content, writing code, and structuring data. This is no different from how most solo projects and newsrooms increasingly operate.
AI-generated content is never published without manual verification. Every factual claim must trace to a specific, verified source before it appears on the site. AI tools have historically introduced errors including fabricated URLs, hallucinated quotes, and inaccurate figures. Multiple full-site audits have been conducted to identify and fix these errors. The sourcing standard is simple: if it cannot be verified against a real, accessible source, it does not go up.
Transparency
AI assists with: drafting initial case content from verified sources, code development and site infrastructure, structuring and organizing data, and identifying relevant source material for research.
AI does not: determine what gets published, generate figures or statistics, verify its own output, or replace editorial judgment. A human reviews every page, confirms every source link, and makes every editorial decision.
Factual claims are sourced to public records, court rulings, and published reporting. Analysis sections — marked "Editorial Analysis" — represent this publication's interpretation of documented evidence. Pattern classifications reflect editorial analysis of government decisions, not statements of legal fact.
This site does not accuse any individual of criminal conduct unless citing a court ruling or official finding. Naming an individual or organization does not imply wrongdoing. The appearance of an entity on this site indicates they are mentioned in publicly reported matters — nothing more.
We take factual accuracy seriously. If you believe any content on this site is factually inaccurate, please contact us at thefordfiles@proton.me with the specific claim and your evidence. We will review and correct verified errors promptly.
See our corrections log for a record of changes.
This publication exercises its right to editorial opinion and commentary on matters of public interest under Ontario law. Content on this site constitutes fair comment on matters of public interest, based on documented facts. If you believe any content is factually inaccurate, please contact us.
Some content on this site is marked as satire or editorial commentary. Satirical captions are clearly labelled and do not alter the underlying case data or source citations. Satire on this site is intended as commentary on public figures acting in their public capacity, consistent with fair comment principles.