A frustrated Stockwell bolted from the room in the downtown hotel shortly after someone in the audience tried to ask a question. "We're not doing that," said Stockwell, who immediately threatened to shut down the hastily arranged hearing. "I'm here to hear from individuals . . . but if you're going to shout down the (presenters), then we'll just pack it up."

When the jeers continued, Stockwell halted the proceedings.

"All right, fine. Let's adjourn," he said before storming out.

Retiree Frank Green, who held up an anti-privatization sign, called it "atrocious" the Tory government is "ramming" through the sale of Hydro One.

"This isn't a hearing. It's not a consultation. The whole thing is stacked. They've got their friends in on the agenda . . . and the people who came here out of concern, they don't listen to," said Green.

"When they privatize Hydro, the rates will go up for me and everybody else."

The hearings, announced just Monday afternoon, were to involve a list of seven presenters, including the head of Bruce Power, Energy Probe and the Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund.

Despite widespread opposition and a recent court ruling on a challenge by two Ontario unions that the sale was not legal, the government has already said the sale of Hydro One will go ahead.

Premier Ernie Eves said last week the government will appeal the court ruling and also rewrite the law on which the ruling was based in order to make the sale, the largest share-offering in Canadian history, go ahead this fall.

Though the move was announced in December by former premier Mike Harris, no public hearings were called by the government until now. Opposition parties have held their own public forums, saying the government hasn't gone to the people of the province for their opinion on the sale.

"All that you're seeing on this list of presenters are the government's own chosen propaganda agents who've come here to spin government propaganda," said New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton.

"As soon as the public wants in, as soon as the public wants to question these outright lies, to put down this propaganda piece, the minister says 'I'm not interested in hearing from you.' "

But Stockwell said there was no point trying to continue.

"You can't have public hearings when a series of people are screaming and yelling and chanting," a flushed Stockwell said in an interview before heading back to Toronto.

"They've been clamouring for public consultation all these months - the first chance we have for public consultation, they come in and shut the process down. What are they frightened of?"

He also denied the hearings were stacked, saying those opposed to the government's position were invited to talk.

One who never got the chance was Lynn Girty of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

"The transmission system should not be privatized," said Girty.

"There's no opportunity for savings. It's a monopoly. He who controls the transmission system has the final control. The public owns it, they should continue to own it."

Stockwell said he would ensure there are further hearings to allow input into the legislation he plans to pass by June 28.

"Obviously when we hold future ones, people will understand why we have to close it to the public."

The current series of hearings in 10 cities were to wrap up May 7 or 8.

Sid Ryan, Ontario president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, said Stockwell's rapid departure is par for the course.

"It's the same old Stockwell. I could have predicted this," said Ryan.

"I've been to two sets of hearings where we had one individual stand up and voice some concerns and he charges out of the room."

About 100 members of the public and others opposed to the privatization then took over the hearing room, with several making statements against it, as did Hampton.

Many said they wanted to make presentations but weren't allowed to, while others complained of the short notice.

"It's outrageous," said one man.

Before the sudden halt to the proceedings, Duncan Hawthorne, head of Bruce Power, praised the "vision" of the Ontario government for deregulating and privatizing the province's electricity sector.

"Competition drives down cost, improves customer service and improves reliability," said Hawthorne.

He also talked about how hundreds of millions of dollars in new investments by British Energy in the Bruce nuclear power plant has revitalized the surrounding community on the shores of Lake Huron.