Ontario, Canada: Hospitals: Public consultations needed - Welland Tribune - Ontario, CA

"It's up to a lobby group to bring democracy to discussions about changes to Ontario's hospitals.

That's because the provincial government refuses to do so, said Ontario Health Coalition executive director Natalie Mehra. Despite repeated requests to the Ministry of Health, asking that its public Rural and Northern Health Care Panel hold public consultations, Mehra said the government has "refused to hold public consultations."

She said the government's panel will only be consulting with select organizations including Ontario Hospital Association, the Ontario Medical Association, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and an emergency medical service organization.

"There's not a single patient group, no municipality, no seniors group, or advocacy groups, or public interest groups, nobody," she said in an interview Tuesday....."