While Ontarians worry about their health care, Ford is worried about the optics

QUEEN’S PARK — A new document obtained by CTV Toronto shows that Doug Ford's new health care corporation should have office space, staff, phones, a website, a corporate identity and a new CEO by Wednesday — and that the Ford government has been preoccupied with the PR risks around its plan.

According to the document, the Ford government fears people will respond to their health care overhaul unfavourably and “target negative impact on health care delivery in messaging."

"This document seems to brush off concerns about how this scheme will hurt patients, and focus on how to avoid negative spin around problems it will cause in health care delivery," said Andrea Horwath, Leader of the Official Opposition NDP.

Meanwhile, Ford has refused to tell the public about his scheme — despite the fact that cabinet has signed off and the new Super Agency corporation has been registered.

"Doug Ford is scared that actually hearing from Ontarians who depend on our health care system will derail his backroom plan to create a mega-bureaucracy, kill off health agencies and open the door to unprecedented levels of for-profit private health care,” said Horwath.

"Ontarians deserve so much better than a government worried more about optics than the quality of health care in our province."