Doug Ford's health-care bill provokes avalanche of public response

Ontariansswamped Queen's Park with requests to speak about the Ford government's sweeping proposals to revamp the health system.

Although the Progressive Conservatives allowed just a one-day window to sign up, more than 1,400 people asked to make oral submissions to a public hearing Monday and Tuesday. The Legislature's standing committee on social policyis reviewing the government's bill, called The People's Health Care Act.

• ANALYSIS What exactly is Ontario doing to its health-care system?

• What you need to know about Ontario's new model for health care

Even the most controversial bills typically drawno more than a few hundred requests to present at a public hearing, according to veteran MPPs.

"I have never seen such a pent-up demand to be heard," said MPP France Glinas, the NDP health critic for the past 12 years. "Never, ever, ever."

The response to the PCs' legislation shows how deeply people care about the health system, said Glinasin a phone interview on Friday.

"They are not happy with the changes that the government is trying to do and they want their voice to be heard," she said.

The proposed changes include dissolving all 14 of Ontario's Local Health Integration Networks, as well as sixother administrative bodies such as eHealthOntario and Cancer Care Ontario, and replacing all with a single oversight agency to be called Ontario Health.

Only 30 people will getto make oral submissions to the PC-controlled committee of MPPs looking at the health system bill.This means about 98 per cent of those who asked to present will not get the chance.

The New Democrats say the PCs are failing to consult adequately on the health reforms.

"They don't want to listen to the people of Ontario," Glinassaid.

"They make their decisions behind closed doors with a few chosen advisers and they don't want to give people a chance to be heard."

• Ford government creating Ontario Health super-agency

Health Minister Christine Elliott was not available for an interview Friday.

In a statement emailed to CBC News, Elliott's press secretary Hayley Chazan said the government consulted with patients, families, nurses, doctors and experts before tabling its bill in February.

"Our discussions with Ontarians won't end with the committee process," Chazan wrote in the email.

"Our government will continue to consult with patients and the people who plan and work on the front lines of our health care systems as we implement our long-term strategy."

The PCs have also kept a tight leash on public input into other major bills, such as their rollback of police oversight measures.

The notice of public hearing for that legislation was posted on March 5 and the one-day hearing was held March 7. Thatbill passed third and final reading on Tuesday.