Ontario politicians echoed media concerns Monday about a sweeping publication ban in the Tori Stafford case, but Premier Dalton McGuinty said he was confident the facts in the first-degree murder proceedings would eventually come out.

The Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats both warned the ban imposed Friday by Justice Dougald McDermid would only fuel rumours and false information, especially in today's wired world.

"Everyone has a blog and Facebook and Twitter," said Opposition justice critic Ted Chudleigh.

"My big concern is that justice won't be served by this since the rumours will certainly fill the void, and that's a bad thing for justice."

The New Democrats said the publication ban went so far beyond the norm it should be called a blackout.

"With our blogosphere culture, there's going to be all sorts of stuff said about what's happening (and) most of it will be inaccurate or downright malicious falsehoods," said NDP justice critic Peter Kormos.

"Surely the truth is preferable to any falsehoods, misinformation, speculation or innuendo."

Speaking at an unrelated event in Walkerton, Ont., McGuinty said he had confidence in the criminal justice system and advised people to be patient while the cases against Stafford's accused killers work their way through the courts.

"I think these are early days in terms of the proceedings themselves," said McGuinty.

"I think there will be opportunities for us to acquire more information generally, the public -- through the media -- as things unfold."

Stafford, a Grade 3 student, disappeared after leaving school in April last year, sparking a desperate search that touched hearts across the country. Her remains were found three months later in a field north of Guelph, about 100 kilometres away.

Terri-Lynne McClintic, 19, and Michael Rafferty, 29, were arrested in May 2009 and charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping.

McClintic was scheduled to appear in a Woodstock court Friday, but a temporary publication ban prevents the media from providing any further information until further order of the court.

Last month the court set June 21 as the date for Rafferty's preliminary hearing to begin.

The hearing, which allows a judge to weigh the evidence and decide if the case can move forward to trial, is expected to last about four weeks.

Attorney General Chris Bentley declined to comment Monday on the specifics of the publication ban, and said it would be up to the judge to eventually explain his decision.

"That's one of the strengths of the system, that judges are independent of politicians or others and make the decisions according to our laws," said Bentley. "I'll leave it to the judge and the judicial process to speak to the issue."

The publication ban raised the ire of media outlets across the country on the weekend, prompting front-page editorials saying the ban goes too far and gags journalists.

Even the reason for the publication ban being imposed is off limits.

However, even critics point out the ban is only temporary and eventually the facts will become public.