"how to make peace with Frank Klees"
Kelly Mitchel and pathway step back into the fray. I just about spilled my beer when I heard about this $7,000 billed political nonsense. That's OK though, the government is not going to let them sit through the summer anyway.
Kind'a makes me feel a little "Icky" just keeping up with the tweets from these guys. I could not imagine having a career like this. How do they wake up every morning and not feel like a piece of shit?
Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
Moderators: lilfssister, North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, I WAS Birddog
-
Moose47
- Rank (9)
- Posts: 1348
- Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 2:45 pm
- Location: Home of Canada's Air Defence
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/C ... OttawaHome
Judy was a family friend I knew since 1964 up in Goose Bay. Her husband Clyde and my father served together at a number of bases.
'R.I.P. Judy'
Cheers...Chris
Judy was a family friend I knew since 1964 up in Goose Bay. Her husband Clyde and my father served together at a number of bases.
'R.I.P. Judy'
Cheers...Chris
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
Questions of lobbying activity swirl at ORNGE hearing
Published On Wed May 16 2012
Former ORNGE vice-president Maria Renzella testifies Wednesday before the committee investigating the air ambulance scandal.
Tanya Talaga and Kevin Donovan Queen’s Park Bureau
Two former ORNGE executives told a legislative committee probing the air ambulance service that the ex-president of the Liberal Party of Canada had shepherded key meetings and devised the agency’s corporate structure.
Jacob Blum, a former ORNGE vice-president, testified Wednesday that lawyer Alfred Apps contacted Premier Dalton McGuinty’s election campaign mastermind in 2007 to arrange sessions with senior provincial government officials. Apps was a well known Liberal strategist at the time and became president of the federal party in 2009.
And Maria Renzella, another former ORNGE vice-president, testified that Apps helped create the ORNGE’s Byzantine corporate structure and marshalled a $24-million real estate transaction involving the service’s headquarters.
The OPP are investigating ORNGE real estate transactions and money paid to one of ORNGE’s for-profit companies by an Italian helicopter manufacturer.
Apps used to be part of the law firm Fasken Martineau that handled business dealings with ORNGE, the province’s air ambulance service. He enlisted Don Guy, a strategist who ran McGuinty’s last four election campaigns, to help with consolidating ORNGE onto the province’s books.
Blum, who was the right hand man of ORNGE founder Dr. Chris Mazza, told reporters outside the committee that Guy was being directed by Apps to set up some meetings in late 2007 regarding ORNGE.
Ontario’s integrity commissioner has raised the possibility that Apps lobbied for ORNGE without registering.
Apps told the Star on Wednesday that he has not acted as a lobbyist as “I’ve never asked the government for anything in respect to ORNGE, I’ve just made sure it was fully and properly briefed.”
He added Ontario’s integrity commissioner, Lynn Morrison, did look into if he had lobbied concerning emails sent in 2010, but it was ruled he didn’t as he was not compensated.
Ontario’s Auditor General Jim McCarter has questioned what happened to $9 million in profits after ORNGE headquarters nicknamed the “Crystal Palace” was purchased for $15 million by an air ambulance subsidiary, then leased back to ORNGE with a rent 40 per cent above market rates and used as collateral to borrow $24 million.
The hearing is probing questionable contract payments, high salaries and the creation of spinoff for-profit companies at ORNGE, an agency that receives $150 million a year in public money.
Renzella, a chartered accountant, said she earned $240,000 a year at ORNGE along with a performance bonus. However, her salary was recently disclosed on ORNGE’s website as $430,255, which includes a taxable benefit of $42,748. Renzella’s $110,000 MBA was paid for by ORNGE, she told the committee. The Star previously reported that during the European portion of her MBA, which Renzella later wrote about, she commented that: “The restaurants (in Brussels) were great. The waffles were fantastic and the chocolate was unbelievable.”
Progressive Conservative MPP Frank Klees asked Renzella if Apps was the “brainchild” behind ORNGE’s corporate structure and Renzella said this was true.
Regarding the lease of the corporate headquarters, Apps said he will provide “significant additional evidence” to the committee in the coming weeks. He called the lease a “standard transaction” for a company of this sort.
Guy, who was also McGuinty’s first chief of staff as premier, was out of government when he worked as a consultant for Fasken Martineau. The hearing has heard the firm billed 22,000 hours of legal work on ORNGE matters.
Both Guy and Apps have testified before the all-party committee.
Guy told the Star in an email there was “nothing in Mr. Blum’s affidavit, nor in his responses to reporters’ questions after the hearing supports the assertion that I contacted or arranged meetings with government on behalf of ORNGE or Fasken at any time.
“I have said under oath, and repeat once again, that I did not lobby anyone,” said Guy.
Klees asked Blum about his affidavit, which contains business notes including an email he received from Apps, stating the outcome of an introduction Apps arranged between McGuinty and Mazza during a Liberal fundraiser.
“Last nite (sic) worked perfectly,” said the email from Apps, dated June 20, 2007. “Chris was able to make a real connection with the premier, and to lay out the success story of ORNGE at a high level in a way that provides the groundwork of our entire initiative.
“Once we have massaged the game plan past the minister of health, I will organize a follow-up private dinner for Chris with the premier so that he can outline the vision and the game plan in greater detail,” the email said.
However, Apps told the Star in an interview that Mazza met McGuinty at the fundraiser, which Apps helped organize, in a crowded room.
“The premier listened graciously, smiled, seemed to be interested in what he was saying and then he moved on to the next guest,” Apps said.
Blum also read for the committee some of his business journal notes, filed in the affidavit, regarding a Dec. 10, 2007 meeting with Apps. “Alf Apps described about what Don talked about, about what Don is doing. Senior ministry of finance officials are on our side with regards to consolidation. Don Guy is to handle,” according to Blum’s notes.
A meeting was to be quickly set up with the Ministry of Finance, Blum said.
Published On Wed May 16 2012
Former ORNGE vice-president Maria Renzella testifies Wednesday before the committee investigating the air ambulance scandal.
Tanya Talaga and Kevin Donovan Queen’s Park Bureau
Two former ORNGE executives told a legislative committee probing the air ambulance service that the ex-president of the Liberal Party of Canada had shepherded key meetings and devised the agency’s corporate structure.
Jacob Blum, a former ORNGE vice-president, testified Wednesday that lawyer Alfred Apps contacted Premier Dalton McGuinty’s election campaign mastermind in 2007 to arrange sessions with senior provincial government officials. Apps was a well known Liberal strategist at the time and became president of the federal party in 2009.
And Maria Renzella, another former ORNGE vice-president, testified that Apps helped create the ORNGE’s Byzantine corporate structure and marshalled a $24-million real estate transaction involving the service’s headquarters.
The OPP are investigating ORNGE real estate transactions and money paid to one of ORNGE’s for-profit companies by an Italian helicopter manufacturer.
Apps used to be part of the law firm Fasken Martineau that handled business dealings with ORNGE, the province’s air ambulance service. He enlisted Don Guy, a strategist who ran McGuinty’s last four election campaigns, to help with consolidating ORNGE onto the province’s books.
Blum, who was the right hand man of ORNGE founder Dr. Chris Mazza, told reporters outside the committee that Guy was being directed by Apps to set up some meetings in late 2007 regarding ORNGE.
Ontario’s integrity commissioner has raised the possibility that Apps lobbied for ORNGE without registering.
Apps told the Star on Wednesday that he has not acted as a lobbyist as “I’ve never asked the government for anything in respect to ORNGE, I’ve just made sure it was fully and properly briefed.”
He added Ontario’s integrity commissioner, Lynn Morrison, did look into if he had lobbied concerning emails sent in 2010, but it was ruled he didn’t as he was not compensated.
Ontario’s Auditor General Jim McCarter has questioned what happened to $9 million in profits after ORNGE headquarters nicknamed the “Crystal Palace” was purchased for $15 million by an air ambulance subsidiary, then leased back to ORNGE with a rent 40 per cent above market rates and used as collateral to borrow $24 million.
The hearing is probing questionable contract payments, high salaries and the creation of spinoff for-profit companies at ORNGE, an agency that receives $150 million a year in public money.
Renzella, a chartered accountant, said she earned $240,000 a year at ORNGE along with a performance bonus. However, her salary was recently disclosed on ORNGE’s website as $430,255, which includes a taxable benefit of $42,748. Renzella’s $110,000 MBA was paid for by ORNGE, she told the committee. The Star previously reported that during the European portion of her MBA, which Renzella later wrote about, she commented that: “The restaurants (in Brussels) were great. The waffles were fantastic and the chocolate was unbelievable.”
Progressive Conservative MPP Frank Klees asked Renzella if Apps was the “brainchild” behind ORNGE’s corporate structure and Renzella said this was true.
Regarding the lease of the corporate headquarters, Apps said he will provide “significant additional evidence” to the committee in the coming weeks. He called the lease a “standard transaction” for a company of this sort.
Guy, who was also McGuinty’s first chief of staff as premier, was out of government when he worked as a consultant for Fasken Martineau. The hearing has heard the firm billed 22,000 hours of legal work on ORNGE matters.
Both Guy and Apps have testified before the all-party committee.
Guy told the Star in an email there was “nothing in Mr. Blum’s affidavit, nor in his responses to reporters’ questions after the hearing supports the assertion that I contacted or arranged meetings with government on behalf of ORNGE or Fasken at any time.
“I have said under oath, and repeat once again, that I did not lobby anyone,” said Guy.
Klees asked Blum about his affidavit, which contains business notes including an email he received from Apps, stating the outcome of an introduction Apps arranged between McGuinty and Mazza during a Liberal fundraiser.
“Last nite (sic) worked perfectly,” said the email from Apps, dated June 20, 2007. “Chris was able to make a real connection with the premier, and to lay out the success story of ORNGE at a high level in a way that provides the groundwork of our entire initiative.
“Once we have massaged the game plan past the minister of health, I will organize a follow-up private dinner for Chris with the premier so that he can outline the vision and the game plan in greater detail,” the email said.
However, Apps told the Star in an interview that Mazza met McGuinty at the fundraiser, which Apps helped organize, in a crowded room.
“The premier listened graciously, smiled, seemed to be interested in what he was saying and then he moved on to the next guest,” Apps said.
Blum also read for the committee some of his business journal notes, filed in the affidavit, regarding a Dec. 10, 2007 meeting with Apps. “Alf Apps described about what Don talked about, about what Don is doing. Senior ministry of finance officials are on our side with regards to consolidation. Don Guy is to handle,” according to Blum’s notes.
A meeting was to be quickly set up with the Ministry of Finance, Blum said.
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
I just learned that the Director at the new STARS base in Regina was a Director at ORNGE. I guess he found his golden parachute out of the orange helicopters.
http://canada.landoffree.com/employee/Leslie_Cleverly
http://canada.landoffree.com/employee/Leslie_Cleverly
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
Second legislative warrant to be issued for ORNGE founder Chris Mazza
Published On Thu May 17 2012
Two psychiatrists have declared Chris Mazza unfit to testify, according to his lawyer.
By Tanya Talaga Queen's Park Bureau
A second warrant will be issued to try to force ORNGE founder Dr. Chris Mazza to testify before the committee investigating the air ambulance scandal.
And he isn’t the only one the legislative probe is recalling.
Former Liberal Party of Canada president Alfred Apps; Don Guy, the mastermind behind Premier Dalton McGuinty’s last four election campaigns; and Saad Rafi, the deputy health minister, will be asked to testify again.
The Progressive Conservatives and the New Democrats said the more they delve into multi-million dollar contracts and suspect business practices at ORNGE, the more questions they have. They are demanding the government let the committee sit through the summer, a request the Liberals have so far denied.
But the opposition says time is running out — there are only two more days of hearings scheduled before the legislature rises until the fall.
“If the government feels that somehow this committee is going to disappear, they are wrong,” said PC MPP Frank Klees. “And not only will we issue that Speaker’s warrant to Dr. Mazza, but any other witness who fails.”
However, senior government sources tell the Star the Liberals have not fully discounted allowing the committee to continue hearings while the legislature is not in session. House leaders are negotiating possibilities, the source said.
Two psychiatrists have declared Mazza unfit to testify, according to his lawyer Roger Yachetti.
The probe has heard contradictory evidence over the last several weeks.
Last Wednesday, two former ORNGE executives told the hearing that Apps shepherded key meetings, devised the agency’s byzantine corporate structure and oversaw a complex real estate transaction. The committee also heard Apps enlisted Guy to arrange sessions with key government players. Guy denies he did any lobbying.
“Mr. Apps has some explaining to do,” Klees said.
Ontario’s integrity commissioner has raised the possibility that Apps lobbied for ORNGE without registering.
Apps, a lawyer who used to work at Fasken Martineau where he handled some ORNGE business, has told both the Star and the committee that he has not acted as a lobbyist. “I’ve never asked the government for anything in respect to ORNGE, I’ve just made sure it was fully and properly briefed,” he said.
Commissioner Lynn Morrison did look into whether he had lobbied concerning emails sent in 2010, but it was ruled he didn’t as he was not compensated, Apps has said.
However, Cathryn Motherwell, director of the integrity office, told the Star on Thursday that contrary to what “Mr. Apps told you . . . the commissioner did not find that Mr. Apps was not compensated.
“In fact, the main assumption in the original advisory opinion is that he was compensated,” Motherwell said.
She added the commissioner has been following committee proceedings and she expects to be called as a witness.
On Wednesday, Maria Renzella, a former ORNGE vice-president and chartered accountant, shed light on her version of how a questionable $6.7 million marketing agreement occurred.
That deal, along with real estate transactions, is now under investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police.
Renzella testified she was not the point person on the $144 million helicopter purchase contract with the Italian firm AgustaWestland. Instead, she claimed she briefly spearheaded the $6.7 million marketing agreement made after the purchase of the 12 helicopters.
Renzella told the hearing Mazza called her in January 2010 and said he had negotiated an agreement with Agusta to pay for weight upgrades.
“And in return he wanted to receive a donation which he wanted the donation to be used to help the revenue-generating opportunities, so he therefore mandated me to when I returned back to get into contact with lawyers and to determine on how to execute this,” she said.
Klees shot back to Renzella: “So it was intended the ($6.7) million was a donation? Your lawyers told you that you cannot accept that donation and so we went back to the drawing board to say how do we accept this … and how can we paper this?”
Renzella replied: “How do you make it legal to be used for what you need to use the funds.”
Klees then asked if anyone, any executive or board member, told her “this is essentially fraud.”
No one did, she said.
Former ORNGE aviation boss Rick Potter testified previously that he managed to save $10 million on the helicopter purchase contract. However, he added, Mazza wanted to give the money back.
The savings related to extra money AgustaWestland was attempting to charge for obtaining certification that the helicopters could carry a greater weight than usual.
In his testimony on May 9, Potter said ORNGE ended up paying Agusta $7.2 million in additional charges.
This set the stage for the payment of $6.7 million from AgustaWestland back to an ORNGE for-profit company controlled by Mazza, committee members suggested.
NDP MPP France Gélinas said the more she finds out about what went on at ORNGE, the “more worried I am. This is a scandal of proportions that I never thought could happen in our health-care system.”
Published On Thu May 17 2012
Two psychiatrists have declared Chris Mazza unfit to testify, according to his lawyer.
By Tanya Talaga Queen's Park Bureau
A second warrant will be issued to try to force ORNGE founder Dr. Chris Mazza to testify before the committee investigating the air ambulance scandal.
And he isn’t the only one the legislative probe is recalling.
Former Liberal Party of Canada president Alfred Apps; Don Guy, the mastermind behind Premier Dalton McGuinty’s last four election campaigns; and Saad Rafi, the deputy health minister, will be asked to testify again.
The Progressive Conservatives and the New Democrats said the more they delve into multi-million dollar contracts and suspect business practices at ORNGE, the more questions they have. They are demanding the government let the committee sit through the summer, a request the Liberals have so far denied.
But the opposition says time is running out — there are only two more days of hearings scheduled before the legislature rises until the fall.
“If the government feels that somehow this committee is going to disappear, they are wrong,” said PC MPP Frank Klees. “And not only will we issue that Speaker’s warrant to Dr. Mazza, but any other witness who fails.”
However, senior government sources tell the Star the Liberals have not fully discounted allowing the committee to continue hearings while the legislature is not in session. House leaders are negotiating possibilities, the source said.
Two psychiatrists have declared Mazza unfit to testify, according to his lawyer Roger Yachetti.
The probe has heard contradictory evidence over the last several weeks.
Last Wednesday, two former ORNGE executives told the hearing that Apps shepherded key meetings, devised the agency’s byzantine corporate structure and oversaw a complex real estate transaction. The committee also heard Apps enlisted Guy to arrange sessions with key government players. Guy denies he did any lobbying.
“Mr. Apps has some explaining to do,” Klees said.
Ontario’s integrity commissioner has raised the possibility that Apps lobbied for ORNGE without registering.
Apps, a lawyer who used to work at Fasken Martineau where he handled some ORNGE business, has told both the Star and the committee that he has not acted as a lobbyist. “I’ve never asked the government for anything in respect to ORNGE, I’ve just made sure it was fully and properly briefed,” he said.
Commissioner Lynn Morrison did look into whether he had lobbied concerning emails sent in 2010, but it was ruled he didn’t as he was not compensated, Apps has said.
However, Cathryn Motherwell, director of the integrity office, told the Star on Thursday that contrary to what “Mr. Apps told you . . . the commissioner did not find that Mr. Apps was not compensated.
“In fact, the main assumption in the original advisory opinion is that he was compensated,” Motherwell said.
She added the commissioner has been following committee proceedings and she expects to be called as a witness.
On Wednesday, Maria Renzella, a former ORNGE vice-president and chartered accountant, shed light on her version of how a questionable $6.7 million marketing agreement occurred.
That deal, along with real estate transactions, is now under investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police.
Renzella testified she was not the point person on the $144 million helicopter purchase contract with the Italian firm AgustaWestland. Instead, she claimed she briefly spearheaded the $6.7 million marketing agreement made after the purchase of the 12 helicopters.
Renzella told the hearing Mazza called her in January 2010 and said he had negotiated an agreement with Agusta to pay for weight upgrades.
“And in return he wanted to receive a donation which he wanted the donation to be used to help the revenue-generating opportunities, so he therefore mandated me to when I returned back to get into contact with lawyers and to determine on how to execute this,” she said.
Klees shot back to Renzella: “So it was intended the ($6.7) million was a donation? Your lawyers told you that you cannot accept that donation and so we went back to the drawing board to say how do we accept this … and how can we paper this?”
Renzella replied: “How do you make it legal to be used for what you need to use the funds.”
Klees then asked if anyone, any executive or board member, told her “this is essentially fraud.”
No one did, she said.
Former ORNGE aviation boss Rick Potter testified previously that he managed to save $10 million on the helicopter purchase contract. However, he added, Mazza wanted to give the money back.
The savings related to extra money AgustaWestland was attempting to charge for obtaining certification that the helicopters could carry a greater weight than usual.
In his testimony on May 9, Potter said ORNGE ended up paying Agusta $7.2 million in additional charges.
This set the stage for the payment of $6.7 million from AgustaWestland back to an ORNGE for-profit company controlled by Mazza, committee members suggested.
NDP MPP France Gélinas said the more she finds out about what went on at ORNGE, the “more worried I am. This is a scandal of proportions that I never thought could happen in our health-care system.”
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
ORNGE ran $14.5-million deficit, documents show
By Tanya Talaga Queen's Park Bureau
Leaked ORNGE budget documents obtained by the Progressive Conservatives show the air ambulance service was running a $14.5-million deficit and they have swallowed a 654 per cent yearly increase in helicopter maintenance costs for their new Italian helicopters.
The documents, unveiled Thursday by PC MPP Frank Klees, indicate ORNGE was seeking a 3-per-cent increase in salaries for all its employees and that the company was trying to figure out how to handle paying down the $14.5-million deficit.
The budget papers, dated Feb. 6, 2011, also show ORNGE forecasted to spend over $20 million in 2013 on interest payments. Those are taxpayer dollars “flowing out the door to investors” instead of going to patient care, Klees said.
“The interest payment is eating into operating funds,” he said. “Couple that with being understaffed and that they can’t meet the needs of the calls coming in. And if there is no more money, what happens to the level of service?”
But ORNGE’s board of directors approved a balanced budget for 2012/2013, they have not asked the government for extra money and they will manage within its means, the agency said in a statement to the Star.
“Since February 2011, there has been significant change at ORNGE including an investigation by forensic auditors, the OPP being called to investigate ‘financial irregularities,’ new leadership in place including a new volunteer board of directors and an amended performance agreement,” the statement said.
Health Minister Deb Matthews has blamed the old performance agreement with ORNGE for her lack of oversight powers at the air service. However, the committee probing ORNGE has heard repeated testimony that the agreement gave the government all the heft it needed to police the agency.
NDP MPP France Gélinas said it is “shameful” the board reviewed all these financial transactions and “nobody clued in.”
“Those people knew they were using taxpayers money to pay down debt,” she said.
“We knew taxpayer money was used to pay down the loan and as much as the Liberals say that taxpayer money wasn’t used … nobody believes them anymore.”
The budget documents show an “unacceptable financial mess” and are an indictment of the lack of oversight that persisted over ORNGE for years, added Klees.
The Star has previously reported decisions were made on the fly and there were missteps as founder Dr. Chris Mazza expanded the air medical service.
For instance, the Star reported 12 brand new AgustaWestland helicopters were recently purchased for about $12 million each, plus additional costs to outfit them as flying medical units. But ORNGE had needed only 10 helicopters — two were in a warehouse in Philadelphia for sale.
The Tory budget documents also show ORNGE has had to swallow a 654-per-cent increase in yearly maintenance expenses for the new helicopters.
For the last several months, the PCs and the NDP have steadfastly pushed for a broader inquiry into the air ambulance scandal.
PC and NDP MPPs dominate the public accounts committee currently investigating ORNGE.
The opposition wants to hold hearings throughout the summer but the Liberals are cool to the idea. However, sources say negotiations are taking place that could allow sittings to happen.
ORNGE also told the Star it will undertake a program evaluation to examine operational demands, delivery models and financial requirements needed for the air ambulance service.
By Tanya Talaga Queen's Park Bureau
Leaked ORNGE budget documents obtained by the Progressive Conservatives show the air ambulance service was running a $14.5-million deficit and they have swallowed a 654 per cent yearly increase in helicopter maintenance costs for their new Italian helicopters.
The documents, unveiled Thursday by PC MPP Frank Klees, indicate ORNGE was seeking a 3-per-cent increase in salaries for all its employees and that the company was trying to figure out how to handle paying down the $14.5-million deficit.
The budget papers, dated Feb. 6, 2011, also show ORNGE forecasted to spend over $20 million in 2013 on interest payments. Those are taxpayer dollars “flowing out the door to investors” instead of going to patient care, Klees said.
“The interest payment is eating into operating funds,” he said. “Couple that with being understaffed and that they can’t meet the needs of the calls coming in. And if there is no more money, what happens to the level of service?”
But ORNGE’s board of directors approved a balanced budget for 2012/2013, they have not asked the government for extra money and they will manage within its means, the agency said in a statement to the Star.
“Since February 2011, there has been significant change at ORNGE including an investigation by forensic auditors, the OPP being called to investigate ‘financial irregularities,’ new leadership in place including a new volunteer board of directors and an amended performance agreement,” the statement said.
Health Minister Deb Matthews has blamed the old performance agreement with ORNGE for her lack of oversight powers at the air service. However, the committee probing ORNGE has heard repeated testimony that the agreement gave the government all the heft it needed to police the agency.
NDP MPP France Gélinas said it is “shameful” the board reviewed all these financial transactions and “nobody clued in.”
“Those people knew they were using taxpayers money to pay down debt,” she said.
“We knew taxpayer money was used to pay down the loan and as much as the Liberals say that taxpayer money wasn’t used … nobody believes them anymore.”
The budget documents show an “unacceptable financial mess” and are an indictment of the lack of oversight that persisted over ORNGE for years, added Klees.
The Star has previously reported decisions were made on the fly and there were missteps as founder Dr. Chris Mazza expanded the air medical service.
For instance, the Star reported 12 brand new AgustaWestland helicopters were recently purchased for about $12 million each, plus additional costs to outfit them as flying medical units. But ORNGE had needed only 10 helicopters — two were in a warehouse in Philadelphia for sale.
The Tory budget documents also show ORNGE has had to swallow a 654-per-cent increase in yearly maintenance expenses for the new helicopters.
For the last several months, the PCs and the NDP have steadfastly pushed for a broader inquiry into the air ambulance scandal.
PC and NDP MPPs dominate the public accounts committee currently investigating ORNGE.
The opposition wants to hold hearings throughout the summer but the Liberals are cool to the idea. However, sources say negotiations are taking place that could allow sittings to happen.
ORNGE also told the Star it will undertake a program evaluation to examine operational demands, delivery models and financial requirements needed for the air ambulance service.
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
ORNGE: Leaked Cabinet documents suggest bureaucrats warned against Mazza deal
Published On Mon May 28 2012
Progressive Conservative MPP Frank Klees says he has obtained leaked cabinet documents that warn the Ontario government not to approve former ORNGE head Chris Mazza's scheme for the air ambulance service.
CARLOS OSORIO/TORONTO STAR
Robert Benzie Queen's Park Bureau Chief
Senior Ontario bureaucrats repeatedly warned the Liberal government against approving former ORNGE boss Chris Mazza’s scheme for the air ambulance service, according to leaked cabinet documents.
Progressive Conservative MPP Frank Klees said that revelation was found in a “banker’s box” full of internal memos leaked to him by “front-line people in Ministry of Health.”
“Among those documents was a submission document prepared for management board of cabinet by the emergency health services branch, dated October 15, 2004,” Klees (Newmarket-Aurora) told the house.
“That document could not be more clear — someone at a very high level was manipulating this proposal through the approvals system, against the advice and warnings of senior civil servants,” he charged.
Health Minister Deb Matthews, who was a rookie MPP at the time and not yet in cabinet, said she couldn’t speak to Klees’ allegations.
“As soon as I became aware that there were problems at ORNGE, I moved in very aggressive manner to fix those problems,” said Matthews, referring to moves made last winter after a sweeping Toronto Star investigation.
“It’s clear that with the benefit of hindsight we would have had a stronger performance agreement,” she said of the doomed arrangement with Mazza, who lost his job after the for-profit ORNGE company that paid him was pushed into bankruptcy.
“It’s appalling what happened at ORNGE. It is completely unacceptable. The OPP are investigating — that doesn’t happen very often.”
But Klees said the documents prove that the Liberals’ claims of a lack of oversight for ORNGE are specious because bureaucrats were sounding the alarm eight years ago.
“It gives 15 specific reasons why the Mazza scheme should never have been approved,” he said of the private-public arrangement the Liberals approved.
“It must have been political interference.”
Published On Mon May 28 2012
Progressive Conservative MPP Frank Klees says he has obtained leaked cabinet documents that warn the Ontario government not to approve former ORNGE head Chris Mazza's scheme for the air ambulance service.
CARLOS OSORIO/TORONTO STAR
Robert Benzie Queen's Park Bureau Chief
Senior Ontario bureaucrats repeatedly warned the Liberal government against approving former ORNGE boss Chris Mazza’s scheme for the air ambulance service, according to leaked cabinet documents.
Progressive Conservative MPP Frank Klees said that revelation was found in a “banker’s box” full of internal memos leaked to him by “front-line people in Ministry of Health.”
“Among those documents was a submission document prepared for management board of cabinet by the emergency health services branch, dated October 15, 2004,” Klees (Newmarket-Aurora) told the house.
“That document could not be more clear — someone at a very high level was manipulating this proposal through the approvals system, against the advice and warnings of senior civil servants,” he charged.
Health Minister Deb Matthews, who was a rookie MPP at the time and not yet in cabinet, said she couldn’t speak to Klees’ allegations.
“As soon as I became aware that there were problems at ORNGE, I moved in very aggressive manner to fix those problems,” said Matthews, referring to moves made last winter after a sweeping Toronto Star investigation.
“It’s clear that with the benefit of hindsight we would have had a stronger performance agreement,” she said of the doomed arrangement with Mazza, who lost his job after the for-profit ORNGE company that paid him was pushed into bankruptcy.
“It’s appalling what happened at ORNGE. It is completely unacceptable. The OPP are investigating — that doesn’t happen very often.”
But Klees said the documents prove that the Liberals’ claims of a lack of oversight for ORNGE are specious because bureaucrats were sounding the alarm eight years ago.
“It gives 15 specific reasons why the Mazza scheme should never have been approved,” he said of the private-public arrangement the Liberals approved.
“It must have been political interference.”
-
1000islander
- Rank 1
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:30 am
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
“It must have been political interference.”
Where is Georgey Smitherman hiding??? He has some splainin' to do..
Where is Georgey Smitherman hiding??? He has some splainin' to do..
-
1000islander
- Rank 1
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:30 am
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
McGuinty, Smitherman say they didn't see memo on Ornge
TORONTO — Premier Dalton McGuinty says he never saw a memo from a government lawyer who sounded the alarm about Ornge almost eight years ago.
The lawyer warned in 2004 that there were problems with the original agreement that the government ended up signing with the troubled air ambulance service.
Opposition critics say it shows the government ignored the red flags about Ornge for years, even from its own bureaucrats.
Former health minister George Smitherman says the legal memo wasn't sent to him or his staff to the best of his knowledge, so allegations that he ignored the advice are inaccurate.
But Tory critic Frank Klees says he doesn't believe Smitherman, who signed the flawed performance agreement in 2005.
He says if Smitherman didn't see the legal memo, he wasn't doing his job as health minister.
"If the former minister really did not see that information, then it speaks to his own incompetence and the lack of attention he was giving to his file," Klees said.
"This is not a small regulatory change. This is a multimillion-dollar decision that changed the entire structure of our air ambulance system."
The document, dated Sept. 30, 2004, cities several problems with an internal memo to cabinet outlining the air ambulance proposal.
The government's role in Ornge and the amount of control it had over the organization wasn't "sufficiently addressed," health ministry lawyer Mel Springman warned in the letter.
"I continue to have serious concerns respecting the tone and substance" of the proposal, he wrote.
Whatever one may think of the final recommendation to cabinet on the air ambulance reform, "the various incarnations of that document have consistently stood on rather flimsy, indeed sometimes misleading grounds," Springman wrote.
But Smitherman notes that another branch of the health ministry disagreed with Springman's opinion.
In a Nov. 1, 2004 letter to a senior health bureaucrat, Malcolm Bates, director of the emergency health services branch, said some of Springman's comments were "factually incorrect."
They included Springman's assertion that 40 pages of background information and a 30-page appendix providing a history of Ontario's air ambulance service is "selective and insufficient," Bates wrote.
"In EHSB's opinion these comments are not legal advice, but are business advice with which we disagree," he wrote.
"The issue of governance and control of the consolidated program is exhaustively reviewed and a sample performance agreement is attached," Bates wrote.
"The ministry will retain its governance of the program and only a small statutory change to the definitions section of the Ambulance Act is necessary to empower the new non-profit corporation."
Cabinet approved the agreement and awarded the contract for air ambulance services to a corporation that was later renamed Ornge, after its orange aircraft.
The decision was made after a number of coroner's reports and the auditor general urged Ontario to fix its patchwork air ambulance delivery.
But in his investigation of Ornge, the province's auditor general Jim McCarter found the 2005 agreement was inadequate and the ministry failed to follow up on whether Ornge was adequately performing its duties.
Health Minister Deb Matthews blamed the agreement for tying her hands once she found out something had gone wrong at Ornge, preventing her from acting sooner to stop the waste of taxpayer dollars.
Smitherman, who left the health portfolio in 2008 for another cabinet post, testified before a legislative committee that he wasn't aware anything had gone awry at Ornge until it became front-page news late last year.
The Liberals have since signed a new performance agreement with Ornge and introduced legislation that they say will bring more oversight to the organization, which is under new management.
In his report, McCarter found that Ornge was given $730 million over five years with virtually no government oversight of how the money was spent. It was also allowed to borrow almost $300 million with the province's blessing.
He also found a "number of examples of questionable business practices" at Ornge, which has been mired in controversy for months over high salaries and allegations that public dollars may have been used for personal gain.
The organization is currently under a criminal probe for "financial irregularities."
OK. Thanks GEORGE..that explains it.. for a moment I thought the Liberals had wasted more of my money....
TORONTO — Premier Dalton McGuinty says he never saw a memo from a government lawyer who sounded the alarm about Ornge almost eight years ago.
The lawyer warned in 2004 that there were problems with the original agreement that the government ended up signing with the troubled air ambulance service.
Opposition critics say it shows the government ignored the red flags about Ornge for years, even from its own bureaucrats.
Former health minister George Smitherman says the legal memo wasn't sent to him or his staff to the best of his knowledge, so allegations that he ignored the advice are inaccurate.
But Tory critic Frank Klees says he doesn't believe Smitherman, who signed the flawed performance agreement in 2005.
He says if Smitherman didn't see the legal memo, he wasn't doing his job as health minister.
"If the former minister really did not see that information, then it speaks to his own incompetence and the lack of attention he was giving to his file," Klees said.
"This is not a small regulatory change. This is a multimillion-dollar decision that changed the entire structure of our air ambulance system."
The document, dated Sept. 30, 2004, cities several problems with an internal memo to cabinet outlining the air ambulance proposal.
The government's role in Ornge and the amount of control it had over the organization wasn't "sufficiently addressed," health ministry lawyer Mel Springman warned in the letter.
"I continue to have serious concerns respecting the tone and substance" of the proposal, he wrote.
Whatever one may think of the final recommendation to cabinet on the air ambulance reform, "the various incarnations of that document have consistently stood on rather flimsy, indeed sometimes misleading grounds," Springman wrote.
But Smitherman notes that another branch of the health ministry disagreed with Springman's opinion.
In a Nov. 1, 2004 letter to a senior health bureaucrat, Malcolm Bates, director of the emergency health services branch, said some of Springman's comments were "factually incorrect."
They included Springman's assertion that 40 pages of background information and a 30-page appendix providing a history of Ontario's air ambulance service is "selective and insufficient," Bates wrote.
"In EHSB's opinion these comments are not legal advice, but are business advice with which we disagree," he wrote.
"The issue of governance and control of the consolidated program is exhaustively reviewed and a sample performance agreement is attached," Bates wrote.
"The ministry will retain its governance of the program and only a small statutory change to the definitions section of the Ambulance Act is necessary to empower the new non-profit corporation."
Cabinet approved the agreement and awarded the contract for air ambulance services to a corporation that was later renamed Ornge, after its orange aircraft.
The decision was made after a number of coroner's reports and the auditor general urged Ontario to fix its patchwork air ambulance delivery.
But in his investigation of Ornge, the province's auditor general Jim McCarter found the 2005 agreement was inadequate and the ministry failed to follow up on whether Ornge was adequately performing its duties.
Health Minister Deb Matthews blamed the agreement for tying her hands once she found out something had gone wrong at Ornge, preventing her from acting sooner to stop the waste of taxpayer dollars.
Smitherman, who left the health portfolio in 2008 for another cabinet post, testified before a legislative committee that he wasn't aware anything had gone awry at Ornge until it became front-page news late last year.
The Liberals have since signed a new performance agreement with Ornge and introduced legislation that they say will bring more oversight to the organization, which is under new management.
In his report, McCarter found that Ornge was given $730 million over five years with virtually no government oversight of how the money was spent. It was also allowed to borrow almost $300 million with the province's blessing.
He also found a "number of examples of questionable business practices" at Ornge, which has been mired in controversy for months over high salaries and allegations that public dollars may have been used for personal gain.
The organization is currently under a criminal probe for "financial irregularities."
OK. Thanks GEORGE..that explains it.. for a moment I thought the Liberals had wasted more of my money....
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
Questions of political influence swirl over ORNGE site
Published On Wed May 30 2012
Dr. Chris Mazza, former president and chief executive officer of ORNGE.
By Tanya Talaga Queen's Park Bureau
Questions are swirling as to why ORNGE officials sought to place a helicopter base at the Oshawa airport and if Finance Minister Jim Flaherty made an attempt to influence the decision.
The government committee investigating the ORNGE air ambulance scandal has heard testimony from Rick Potter, the agency’s former aviation boss, that putting a satellite operation in Oshawa was something he would not recommend.
But a decision was made to operate a base in Oshawa anyway, over Peterborough, and put another in Hamilton. Why Oshawa was chosen is an issue that is likely to come up at the all-party public accounts committee probe Wednesday.
The move to east and west of Toronto would split up the Toronto Island base, which is staffed with two crews and two helicopters.
However, the shift is now on hold.
ORNGE told the Star in a statement Tuesday that “the decision to move to Hamilton and Oshawa are both under review and no final decisions have been made yet.
“At this time, the Oshawa project is in the early stages. No renovation work on the hangar has been completed. Interim CEO Ron McKerlie is still gathering information about which decisions made under previous leadership are in the best long-term interest of ORNGE.”
More on the ORNGE investigation
The committee’s probe is examining suspect business practices and questionable multi-million dollar contracts at ORNGE, an agency that receives $150 million a year in public money. The Ontario Provincial Police are also investigating a $6.7-million marketing agreement made with the Italian helicopter firm AgustaWestland and ORNGE.
For months in the Legislature, the Liberals and the Progressive Conservatives have both pointed the finger of blame at each other for what has gone wrong at ORNGE. Both have hurled allegations that Tory- or Liberal-tied lobbyists have had undue influence in the air service.
Potter testified he thought it was strange that the decision was made to put a satellite operation in Oshawa.
“As a matter of fact, Oshawa was certainly not an airport of my choice — on the analysis,” Potter told the committee on public accounts earlier this month. “It doesn’t have an instrument landing system.”
Oshawa also has one of the loudest noise-complaint communities of any of the airports Potter said he has dealt with.
Three emails obtained by the Star from Liberal government sources imply Flaherty was interested in where ORNGE was going to relocate.
The first email dated Saturday, June 11, 2011, and sent by ORNGE staffer Matthew Ellis to Lisa Kirbie, the agency’s director of government relations, said: “Jim Flaherty is eagerly waiting a decision on whether or not we’ll be going to Oshawa.”
Ellis sent another email to Kirbie on Sat., June 18, 2011, stating: “Any answer on Oshawa base? I’m being confronted by two Flahertys, Chris Alexander, and several candidates at an event.”
Alexander is the Conservative MP for the riding of Ajax-Pickering.
Kirbie responded back on Saturday June 18, 2011, and said simply: “Tell them decision is imminent and they’ll be the first call you make.”
Before Ellis arrived at ORNGE, he was a senior adviser to federal Heritage Minister James Moore in policy and then parliamentary affairs. Years ago, Ellis worked for Flaherty at Queen’s Park as his general assistant.
Ellis, who is now director of communications for Prince Edward Island’s Conservative Leader Oliver Crane, told the Star he believes Flaherty was told by Oshawa city council members that the base was coming to the city.
Putting a base in the eastern Greater Toronto Area would give the area much needed air ambulance coverage, Ellis said.
“My recollections of exactly the chain of events, I can’t be sure. That was a year ago now,” he said.
In June 2011, ORNGE was simply the air ambulance service for Ontario and not an issue of controversy, said Chisholm Pothier, Flaherty’s director of communications.
“Minister Flaherty — and other community leaders — were encouraging ORNGE to locate a hangar at the Oshawa airport, which is in the minister’s riding,” he said in an email to the Star.
“The issue was not jobs for the area, the issue was increased health services for their constituents. As an elected representative of Whitby-Oshawa, he takes every opportunity to encourage improved services for their constituents.”
Progressive Conservative MPP Christine Elliott (Whitby-Oshawa), who is married to Flaherty, said the event in Ellis’ email was the campaign office opening for Todd McCarthy, the PC candidate running in the last provincial election in Ajax-Pickering.
Elliott is the other Flaherty mentioned in Ellis’ email. She said she just asked Ellis what the status was of the helicopter base and she did nothing wrong. “It was a conversation we had at a social event. I was just inquiring on the status,” she said.
Elliott also sent a letter to Health Minister Deb Matthews on May 16, 2011, to “encourage” the ministry to bring a “crucial” emergency service to Durham Region.
Potter told the committee ORNGE founder Dr. Chris Mazza first supported the Hamilton decision but then reconsidered. Potter said ORNGE’s Steve Farquhar, vice-president of operations, and Tom Lepine, the fired ORNGE chief operating officer, “pushed Oshawa.”
Lepine is to testify at the hearing Wednesday.
Published On Wed May 30 2012
Dr. Chris Mazza, former president and chief executive officer of ORNGE.
By Tanya Talaga Queen's Park Bureau
Questions are swirling as to why ORNGE officials sought to place a helicopter base at the Oshawa airport and if Finance Minister Jim Flaherty made an attempt to influence the decision.
The government committee investigating the ORNGE air ambulance scandal has heard testimony from Rick Potter, the agency’s former aviation boss, that putting a satellite operation in Oshawa was something he would not recommend.
But a decision was made to operate a base in Oshawa anyway, over Peterborough, and put another in Hamilton. Why Oshawa was chosen is an issue that is likely to come up at the all-party public accounts committee probe Wednesday.
The move to east and west of Toronto would split up the Toronto Island base, which is staffed with two crews and two helicopters.
However, the shift is now on hold.
ORNGE told the Star in a statement Tuesday that “the decision to move to Hamilton and Oshawa are both under review and no final decisions have been made yet.
“At this time, the Oshawa project is in the early stages. No renovation work on the hangar has been completed. Interim CEO Ron McKerlie is still gathering information about which decisions made under previous leadership are in the best long-term interest of ORNGE.”
More on the ORNGE investigation
The committee’s probe is examining suspect business practices and questionable multi-million dollar contracts at ORNGE, an agency that receives $150 million a year in public money. The Ontario Provincial Police are also investigating a $6.7-million marketing agreement made with the Italian helicopter firm AgustaWestland and ORNGE.
For months in the Legislature, the Liberals and the Progressive Conservatives have both pointed the finger of blame at each other for what has gone wrong at ORNGE. Both have hurled allegations that Tory- or Liberal-tied lobbyists have had undue influence in the air service.
Potter testified he thought it was strange that the decision was made to put a satellite operation in Oshawa.
“As a matter of fact, Oshawa was certainly not an airport of my choice — on the analysis,” Potter told the committee on public accounts earlier this month. “It doesn’t have an instrument landing system.”
Oshawa also has one of the loudest noise-complaint communities of any of the airports Potter said he has dealt with.
Three emails obtained by the Star from Liberal government sources imply Flaherty was interested in where ORNGE was going to relocate.
The first email dated Saturday, June 11, 2011, and sent by ORNGE staffer Matthew Ellis to Lisa Kirbie, the agency’s director of government relations, said: “Jim Flaherty is eagerly waiting a decision on whether or not we’ll be going to Oshawa.”
Ellis sent another email to Kirbie on Sat., June 18, 2011, stating: “Any answer on Oshawa base? I’m being confronted by two Flahertys, Chris Alexander, and several candidates at an event.”
Alexander is the Conservative MP for the riding of Ajax-Pickering.
Kirbie responded back on Saturday June 18, 2011, and said simply: “Tell them decision is imminent and they’ll be the first call you make.”
Before Ellis arrived at ORNGE, he was a senior adviser to federal Heritage Minister James Moore in policy and then parliamentary affairs. Years ago, Ellis worked for Flaherty at Queen’s Park as his general assistant.
Ellis, who is now director of communications for Prince Edward Island’s Conservative Leader Oliver Crane, told the Star he believes Flaherty was told by Oshawa city council members that the base was coming to the city.
Putting a base in the eastern Greater Toronto Area would give the area much needed air ambulance coverage, Ellis said.
“My recollections of exactly the chain of events, I can’t be sure. That was a year ago now,” he said.
In June 2011, ORNGE was simply the air ambulance service for Ontario and not an issue of controversy, said Chisholm Pothier, Flaherty’s director of communications.
“Minister Flaherty — and other community leaders — were encouraging ORNGE to locate a hangar at the Oshawa airport, which is in the minister’s riding,” he said in an email to the Star.
“The issue was not jobs for the area, the issue was increased health services for their constituents. As an elected representative of Whitby-Oshawa, he takes every opportunity to encourage improved services for their constituents.”
Progressive Conservative MPP Christine Elliott (Whitby-Oshawa), who is married to Flaherty, said the event in Ellis’ email was the campaign office opening for Todd McCarthy, the PC candidate running in the last provincial election in Ajax-Pickering.
Elliott is the other Flaherty mentioned in Ellis’ email. She said she just asked Ellis what the status was of the helicopter base and she did nothing wrong. “It was a conversation we had at a social event. I was just inquiring on the status,” she said.
Elliott also sent a letter to Health Minister Deb Matthews on May 16, 2011, to “encourage” the ministry to bring a “crucial” emergency service to Durham Region.
Potter told the committee ORNGE founder Dr. Chris Mazza first supported the Hamilton decision but then reconsidered. Potter said ORNGE’s Steve Farquhar, vice-president of operations, and Tom Lepine, the fired ORNGE chief operating officer, “pushed Oshawa.”
Lepine is to testify at the hearing Wednesday.
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
Push is on to get Premier Dalton McGuinty to testify at ORNGE hearing
Published On Wed May 30 2012
Tanya Talaga and Robert Benzie Queen’s Park Bureau
Premier Dalton McGuinty would be forced to testify before an all-party committee of MPPs investigating ORNGE if a Progressive Conservative motion passes.
Tory MPP Frank Klees said Wednesday he would make the unusual move to compel McGuinty to face a grilling at a legislative committee.
During question period, a grim-faced McGuinty ducked repeated questions about whether he would appear.
Klees is a member of the public accounts committee investigating the air ambulance agency’s questionable business contracts, high salaries and odd real estate deals. ORNGE receives $150 million in public funds each year to operate.
“I am going to be drafting a motion and I’ll present it to the clerk today,” Klees told reporters. “The people of Ontario deserve to hear from their premier. This has now reached the doorstep of the premier’s office.”
Klees wants to know why McGuinty endorsed Mazza’s complicated business plans when senior civil servants advised against it.
The committee is dominated by Tory and New Democratic Party members in this Liberal minority government.
NDP MPP France Gelinas said she’ll support McGuinty taking the stand. However, all Klees has to do is add McGuinty’s name to the list — he does not need a special motion to make it happen, she said.
“I have no problem questioning the premier. Is he at the top of my list right now? Absolutely not. I have my eyes on Dr. Chris Mazza,” said Gelinas.
Mazza could appear before the hearing in July, she added.
The House leaders are considering a motion Wednesday that would bring Mazza before the committee on July 18 — under the guise of a special hearing.
Mazza was supposed to testify on June 6 but that date has once again been delayed — the physician has numerous doctors’ notes that state he is unfit to testify.
“I have access to the premier every day but I don’t have access to Dr. Mazza,” she said. “We are really close to bringing him in.”
It is rare for a sitting premier to take a stand at an inquiry or a committee. Former Premier Mike Harris was compelled to testify at the Walkerton inquiry into the E.coli tainted water tragedy where seven people died and 2,000 fell ill.
After he left office, Harris also testified at the Ipperwash inquiry looking into the 1995 fatal police shooting of First Nation protester Dudley George.
Also on Wednesday, fired ORNGE chief operating officer Tom Lepine is expected testify and answer questions as to why agency officials sought to place a helicopter base at Oshawa airport instead of Peterborough and if federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty made an attempt to influence the decision.
Three emails obtained by the Toronto Star from Liberal government sources imply Flaherty was interested in where ORNGE was to relocate.
The first email, dated June 11, 2011 and sent by ORNGE staffer Matthew Ellis to Lisa Kirbie, the agency’s director of government relations, said: “Jim Flaherty is eagerly waiting a decision on whether or not we’ll be going to Oshawa.”
The Oshawa airport is in Flaherty’s riding.
Liberal committee member MPP Jeff Leal, who represents the Peterborough riding, said all three levels of government had recently put $30 million into expanding the Peterborough airport and there was no operational reason why Oshawa was chosen instead.
“We spent $30 million to redo, retrofit and refresh the Peterborough airport,” said Leal. “One of the reasons why we embarked on this ambitious overhaul . . . was to attract more services. It was certainly in line to accommodate the specs for ORNGE.”
The committee has heard testimony from Rick Potter, the agency’s former aviation boss, that putting a satellite operation in Oshawa was something he’d never recommend.
That decision has since been put on hold by the Ministry of Health.
Leal says he understands the City of Oshawa put an “interesting package of incentives” on the table to bring ORNGE to their city. “I am trying to find details of what that incentive package was all about,” he said.
Chisholm Pothier, Flaherty’s director of communications, told the Star that as an “elected representative of Whitby-Oshawa, he takes every opportunity to encourage improved services for constituents.”
Lepine takes the stand this afternoon.
Earlier Wednesday, the committee heard from Tom Rothfels, the former chief operating officer of ORNGE International.
He testified he had considerable aviation background but decisions were made at ORNGE he did not understand.
One of those was why ORNGE founder Dr. Chris Mazza wanted to give back millions in savings Potter had found in an agreement with Italian helicopter firm AgustaWestland to buy 12 choppers.
That deal is now being probed by the Ontario Provincial Police.
Published On Wed May 30 2012
Tanya Talaga and Robert Benzie Queen’s Park Bureau
Premier Dalton McGuinty would be forced to testify before an all-party committee of MPPs investigating ORNGE if a Progressive Conservative motion passes.
Tory MPP Frank Klees said Wednesday he would make the unusual move to compel McGuinty to face a grilling at a legislative committee.
During question period, a grim-faced McGuinty ducked repeated questions about whether he would appear.
Klees is a member of the public accounts committee investigating the air ambulance agency’s questionable business contracts, high salaries and odd real estate deals. ORNGE receives $150 million in public funds each year to operate.
“I am going to be drafting a motion and I’ll present it to the clerk today,” Klees told reporters. “The people of Ontario deserve to hear from their premier. This has now reached the doorstep of the premier’s office.”
Klees wants to know why McGuinty endorsed Mazza’s complicated business plans when senior civil servants advised against it.
The committee is dominated by Tory and New Democratic Party members in this Liberal minority government.
NDP MPP France Gelinas said she’ll support McGuinty taking the stand. However, all Klees has to do is add McGuinty’s name to the list — he does not need a special motion to make it happen, she said.
“I have no problem questioning the premier. Is he at the top of my list right now? Absolutely not. I have my eyes on Dr. Chris Mazza,” said Gelinas.
Mazza could appear before the hearing in July, she added.
The House leaders are considering a motion Wednesday that would bring Mazza before the committee on July 18 — under the guise of a special hearing.
Mazza was supposed to testify on June 6 but that date has once again been delayed — the physician has numerous doctors’ notes that state he is unfit to testify.
“I have access to the premier every day but I don’t have access to Dr. Mazza,” she said. “We are really close to bringing him in.”
It is rare for a sitting premier to take a stand at an inquiry or a committee. Former Premier Mike Harris was compelled to testify at the Walkerton inquiry into the E.coli tainted water tragedy where seven people died and 2,000 fell ill.
After he left office, Harris also testified at the Ipperwash inquiry looking into the 1995 fatal police shooting of First Nation protester Dudley George.
Also on Wednesday, fired ORNGE chief operating officer Tom Lepine is expected testify and answer questions as to why agency officials sought to place a helicopter base at Oshawa airport instead of Peterborough and if federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty made an attempt to influence the decision.
Three emails obtained by the Toronto Star from Liberal government sources imply Flaherty was interested in where ORNGE was to relocate.
The first email, dated June 11, 2011 and sent by ORNGE staffer Matthew Ellis to Lisa Kirbie, the agency’s director of government relations, said: “Jim Flaherty is eagerly waiting a decision on whether or not we’ll be going to Oshawa.”
The Oshawa airport is in Flaherty’s riding.
Liberal committee member MPP Jeff Leal, who represents the Peterborough riding, said all three levels of government had recently put $30 million into expanding the Peterborough airport and there was no operational reason why Oshawa was chosen instead.
“We spent $30 million to redo, retrofit and refresh the Peterborough airport,” said Leal. “One of the reasons why we embarked on this ambitious overhaul . . . was to attract more services. It was certainly in line to accommodate the specs for ORNGE.”
The committee has heard testimony from Rick Potter, the agency’s former aviation boss, that putting a satellite operation in Oshawa was something he’d never recommend.
That decision has since been put on hold by the Ministry of Health.
Leal says he understands the City of Oshawa put an “interesting package of incentives” on the table to bring ORNGE to their city. “I am trying to find details of what that incentive package was all about,” he said.
Chisholm Pothier, Flaherty’s director of communications, told the Star that as an “elected representative of Whitby-Oshawa, he takes every opportunity to encourage improved services for constituents.”
Lepine takes the stand this afternoon.
Earlier Wednesday, the committee heard from Tom Rothfels, the former chief operating officer of ORNGE International.
He testified he had considerable aviation background but decisions were made at ORNGE he did not understand.
One of those was why ORNGE founder Dr. Chris Mazza wanted to give back millions in savings Potter had found in an agreement with Italian helicopter firm AgustaWestland to buy 12 choppers.
That deal is now being probed by the Ontario Provincial Police.
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
ORNGE: Health ministry investigated 26 deaths involving ORNGE since 2007
Published On Fri Jun 01 2012
Twenty-six deaths involving Ontario’s troubled air ambulance service ORNGE over the past six years were under investigation by the Ministry of Health.
Secret cabinet documents obtained by the Progressive Conservatives show the ministry investigated 145 incidents involving ORNGE since 2007.
Forty of those incidents — five of which involved the death of a patient — were opened this year, after the government installed new leadership at Ornge.
The documents, dated May 23, suggest cabinet was briefed on the investigations last week.
The incidents include major delays in dispatching air ambulances, paramedics unable to perform CPR due to cramped conditions in the helicopters and running out of supplies like oxygen and medication.
In some cases, the ministry concluded that ORNGE was not at fault or there wasn’t enough evidence to substantiate complaints.
Earlier this week, Conservative Frank Klees brought up five incidents between May and October 2011 that were related to the design of ORNGE’s new helicopter interiors.
More on the Toronto Star’s ORNGE investigation
They included jammed stretchers, patients unable to sit upright and paramedics unable to perform CPR. In all cases, the patients died.
Tom Lepine, who was fired as ORNGE’s chief operating officer, testified before a legislative committee Wednesday that he was aware of some of those incidents.
ORNGE paid $6 million for the interiors and even sent a team — including Lepine, a former paramedic — to Switzerland to oversee the design.
But Lepine said he only discovered the problem with the medical interiors of the AW-139 helicopters in late 2010, after the first chopper went into service.
He insisted that paramedics could perform CPR in the new helicopters, except during take-off and landing.
“That’s not to say it was an acceptable design,” he told the committee Wednesday. “It wasn’t.”
Lepine also denied that he ignored warnings from paramedics about the design of the interiors or that he downplayed the problem as a “glitch.”
ORNGE is still looking for a permanent fix for the interiors. It said a temporary fix has been made to all the helicopters that addresses some of the most serious concerns.
The committee is also looking at other questionable business deals, high executive salaries and details about the for-profit companies set up by Ornge that are now being shut down.
Ontario’s auditor general has criticized the government for failing to oversee ORNGE, which receives $150 million a year from the province. It is under a criminal probe for “financial irregularities.”
Published On Fri Jun 01 2012
Twenty-six deaths involving Ontario’s troubled air ambulance service ORNGE over the past six years were under investigation by the Ministry of Health.
Secret cabinet documents obtained by the Progressive Conservatives show the ministry investigated 145 incidents involving ORNGE since 2007.
Forty of those incidents — five of which involved the death of a patient — were opened this year, after the government installed new leadership at Ornge.
The documents, dated May 23, suggest cabinet was briefed on the investigations last week.
The incidents include major delays in dispatching air ambulances, paramedics unable to perform CPR due to cramped conditions in the helicopters and running out of supplies like oxygen and medication.
In some cases, the ministry concluded that ORNGE was not at fault or there wasn’t enough evidence to substantiate complaints.
Earlier this week, Conservative Frank Klees brought up five incidents between May and October 2011 that were related to the design of ORNGE’s new helicopter interiors.
More on the Toronto Star’s ORNGE investigation
They included jammed stretchers, patients unable to sit upright and paramedics unable to perform CPR. In all cases, the patients died.
Tom Lepine, who was fired as ORNGE’s chief operating officer, testified before a legislative committee Wednesday that he was aware of some of those incidents.
ORNGE paid $6 million for the interiors and even sent a team — including Lepine, a former paramedic — to Switzerland to oversee the design.
But Lepine said he only discovered the problem with the medical interiors of the AW-139 helicopters in late 2010, after the first chopper went into service.
He insisted that paramedics could perform CPR in the new helicopters, except during take-off and landing.
“That’s not to say it was an acceptable design,” he told the committee Wednesday. “It wasn’t.”
Lepine also denied that he ignored warnings from paramedics about the design of the interiors or that he downplayed the problem as a “glitch.”
ORNGE is still looking for a permanent fix for the interiors. It said a temporary fix has been made to all the helicopters that addresses some of the most serious concerns.
The committee is also looking at other questionable business deals, high executive salaries and details about the for-profit companies set up by Ornge that are now being shut down.
Ontario’s auditor general has criticized the government for failing to oversee ORNGE, which receives $150 million a year from the province. It is under a criminal probe for “financial irregularities.”
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
.
Last edited by FL280 on Tue Sep 25, 2012 1:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
Ornge paramedic tells committee he quit in disgust after patient died
Canadian Press June 6, 2012
A former paramedic with Ornge says he quit Ontario's troubled air ambulance service in disgust in 2009 after the death of a teenager from northwestern Ontario.
TORONTO - A former paramedic with Ornge says he quit Ontario's troubled air ambulance service in disgust in 2009 after the death of a teenager from northwestern Ontario.
Trevor Kidd says had the girl had a hope for survival, Ornge "robbed" her of that chance by not properly staffing their aircraft or sending them in a timely manner.
The whistleblower says he raised red flags about Ornge with journalists and others, but no one believed him because of Ornge's "Mother Teresa" image.
Kidd's father, the mayor of Temiskaming Shores, even talked to former Liberal MPP David Ramsay in 2009 and other officials in the Health Ministry about the problems at Ornge.
Kidd says front-line workers at Ornge are leaving "in droves" because they're unhappy with how Ornge is run.
His testimony before the legislative committee comes in the wake of confidential documents showing the government investigated 26 deaths and 145 incidents involving Ornge since 2007.
Forty of the investigations were opened this year - after the government installed new leadership at Ornge.
In some cases, Ornge wasn't able to respond to calls because there were no paramedics on duty.
Liberal backbencher David Zimmer accused Kidd of being "selfish" by refusing to disclose the names of Ornge employees who have information about the problems at the organization.
"When you're faced with this choice between doing what's best for the air ambulance service and fixing it and getting to the bottom of it, and yet you don't want to share some of that confidential information and confidential names who might help us with that, and you opt to protect your source," Zimmer said.
"Do you think that's a bit selfish of you?"
Kidd said he didn't want to reveal the names because many Ornge employees are still afraid that their employer will retaliate if they come forward.
"I don't feel that I'm in a position to put forward people's names who brought me information at risk to themselves," he said.
"Some people went against their spouses to provide information because they felt that information needed to get out there. But they knew they were putting their career at risk."
Kidd said if the government provides real whistleblower protection to Ornge employees, they will come forward without fear of retribution.
"And their careers trump the safety of Ontarians ... they'd rather protect their careers than help us root out the causes of difficulties at Ornge?" Zimmer said.
Health Minister Deb Matthews also called on the Opposition to reveal any information they have about Ornge that's been kept under wraps.
But Tory Frank Klees told the legislature that the reason his party has the information instead of the government is because no one trusts the Liberals to do anything about it.
Ornge, which is under a criminal probe, has been rocked for months by allegations about questionable business deals, high executive salaries and whether public money was used for personal gain.
Auditor general Jim McCarter has criticized the government for failing to oversee Ornge, despite giving it $730 million over five years and allowing it to borrow another $300 million.
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ornge ... z1x4RAGsea
Canadian Press June 6, 2012
A former paramedic with Ornge says he quit Ontario's troubled air ambulance service in disgust in 2009 after the death of a teenager from northwestern Ontario.
TORONTO - A former paramedic with Ornge says he quit Ontario's troubled air ambulance service in disgust in 2009 after the death of a teenager from northwestern Ontario.
Trevor Kidd says had the girl had a hope for survival, Ornge "robbed" her of that chance by not properly staffing their aircraft or sending them in a timely manner.
The whistleblower says he raised red flags about Ornge with journalists and others, but no one believed him because of Ornge's "Mother Teresa" image.
Kidd's father, the mayor of Temiskaming Shores, even talked to former Liberal MPP David Ramsay in 2009 and other officials in the Health Ministry about the problems at Ornge.
Kidd says front-line workers at Ornge are leaving "in droves" because they're unhappy with how Ornge is run.
His testimony before the legislative committee comes in the wake of confidential documents showing the government investigated 26 deaths and 145 incidents involving Ornge since 2007.
Forty of the investigations were opened this year - after the government installed new leadership at Ornge.
In some cases, Ornge wasn't able to respond to calls because there were no paramedics on duty.
Liberal backbencher David Zimmer accused Kidd of being "selfish" by refusing to disclose the names of Ornge employees who have information about the problems at the organization.
"When you're faced with this choice between doing what's best for the air ambulance service and fixing it and getting to the bottom of it, and yet you don't want to share some of that confidential information and confidential names who might help us with that, and you opt to protect your source," Zimmer said.
"Do you think that's a bit selfish of you?"
Kidd said he didn't want to reveal the names because many Ornge employees are still afraid that their employer will retaliate if they come forward.
"I don't feel that I'm in a position to put forward people's names who brought me information at risk to themselves," he said.
"Some people went against their spouses to provide information because they felt that information needed to get out there. But they knew they were putting their career at risk."
Kidd said if the government provides real whistleblower protection to Ornge employees, they will come forward without fear of retribution.
"And their careers trump the safety of Ontarians ... they'd rather protect their careers than help us root out the causes of difficulties at Ornge?" Zimmer said.
Health Minister Deb Matthews also called on the Opposition to reveal any information they have about Ornge that's been kept under wraps.
But Tory Frank Klees told the legislature that the reason his party has the information instead of the government is because no one trusts the Liberals to do anything about it.
Ornge, which is under a criminal probe, has been rocked for months by allegations about questionable business deals, high executive salaries and whether public money was used for personal gain.
Auditor general Jim McCarter has criticized the government for failing to oversee Ornge, despite giving it $730 million over five years and allowing it to borrow another $300 million.
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ornge ... z1x4RAGsea
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
Nipissing MPP says ORNGE puts northern health at risk
Northern MPPs challenge health minister and ORNGE
CBC News
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 8:02 AM ET
Vic Fedeli says northern Ontario's healthcare has been compromised by ORNGE, the province's air ambulance service.
The Nipissing MPP said on Tuesday that he knows of at least 10 occasions when healthcare was put at risk — and in three of those cases, a patient died as a result.
Fedeli said the interior design of the ORNGE helicopters does not allow for proper care.
"Last July 17th in Capreol, a patient died after the ORNGE paramedics couldn't perform CPR due to the helicopter's interior,” he said.
Health Minister Deb Matthews responded to Fedeli at Queen’s Park, saying that families of the people who died deserve to hear the truth.
"I rely on the coroner, the chief coroner of the province of Ontario. He has the credibility. He has the skills. He reviews these cases thoroughly."
But the debate continues as new information comes to light.
Nickel Belt NDP MPP France Gelinas said Wednesday former ORNGE paramedic Trevor Kidd knew about problems at the organization and tried to sound the alarm by contacting several people – including people at the Ministry of Health.
“Mr. Kidd was so concerned about what was happening at ORNGE that he actually felt he had to resign,” Gelinas said. “He went to his father who happened to be the mayor of Temiskaming Shores, Carmen Kidd, so that he could ask him to help ring the alarm bells.”
Government house leader John Milloy responded by saying that concern were heard and dealt with.
“We have a minister of health who’s taken decisive action to address the concerns at ORNGE,” Milloy said. “We have a new leadership at ORNGE.”
Opposition parties have been calling on the health minister to resign after reports of financial irregularities and delays in dispatching helicopters for care.
Northern MPPs challenge health minister and ORNGE
CBC News
Posted: Jun 6, 2012 8:02 AM ET
Vic Fedeli says northern Ontario's healthcare has been compromised by ORNGE, the province's air ambulance service.
The Nipissing MPP said on Tuesday that he knows of at least 10 occasions when healthcare was put at risk — and in three of those cases, a patient died as a result.
Fedeli said the interior design of the ORNGE helicopters does not allow for proper care.
"Last July 17th in Capreol, a patient died after the ORNGE paramedics couldn't perform CPR due to the helicopter's interior,” he said.
Health Minister Deb Matthews responded to Fedeli at Queen’s Park, saying that families of the people who died deserve to hear the truth.
"I rely on the coroner, the chief coroner of the province of Ontario. He has the credibility. He has the skills. He reviews these cases thoroughly."
But the debate continues as new information comes to light.
Nickel Belt NDP MPP France Gelinas said Wednesday former ORNGE paramedic Trevor Kidd knew about problems at the organization and tried to sound the alarm by contacting several people – including people at the Ministry of Health.
“Mr. Kidd was so concerned about what was happening at ORNGE that he actually felt he had to resign,” Gelinas said. “He went to his father who happened to be the mayor of Temiskaming Shores, Carmen Kidd, so that he could ask him to help ring the alarm bells.”
Government house leader John Milloy responded by saying that concern were heard and dealt with.
“We have a minister of health who’s taken decisive action to address the concerns at ORNGE,” Milloy said. “We have a new leadership at ORNGE.”
Opposition parties have been calling on the health minister to resign after reports of financial irregularities and delays in dispatching helicopters for care.
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
ORNGE: PCs push Liberals for new ORNGE probe
Published On Thu Jun 14 2012
The Progressive Conservatives want to cut off $150 million in ORNGE funding unless the Liberal government strikes a powerful probe to fully investigate the troubled air ambulance service.
The Tories say they’ll bring forward the budget motion this Monday. However, they will need support from the New Democrats in order to pull off the drastic move and, so far, the NDP is remaining tight-lipped on which way they’ll turn.
The Liberals were quick to accuse the Conservatives of playing politics with people’s lives over the amendment to the budget bill.
“We want one thing, a select committee to get to the bottom of this scandal,” said PC MPP Frank Klees, who has led the Tory charge in the legislature on the ORNGE scandal.
For months, an all party public-accounts committee has examined ORNGE’s questionable business contracts, web of now-bankrupt for-profit companies, high salaries and odd real estate deals.
After negotiations between the three parties, it was agreed the committee would be allowed to hold hearings throughout the summer. They’d like to hear from ORNGE founder Dr. Chris Mazza. If he is unable to attend due to medical reasons, Klees said he’ll ask Premier Dalton McGuinty to testify.
PC Leader Tim Hudak said the Tory gambit lands the future of ORNGE and its funding squarely in the hands of McGuinty.
“Somebody’s got to stand up and fight for patients,” Hudak said.
“If we want to restore confidence in our air ambulance we need to get to the bottom of this mess and clean it up.”
But NDP Leader Andrea Horwath isn’t convinced this is the right move. She is taking a wait-and-see position on the amendment.
“I don’t think anybody wants to see the ORNGE air ambulance system not be available to patients in Ontario,” she said.
“It’s too important for us to simply make a rash decision. I’m hoping that calmer heads are going to prevail here and that the Liberals are actually going to take a step down in this brinkmanship game they’re having with the Tories on the select committee.”
Reaction from the Liberal government was swift. They were quick to dismiss the motion as ludicrous as it would leave the province without emergency air ambulance service.
“I can’t believe it,” said Health Minister Deb Matthews. “I can’t believe they’d use patients as pawns with this issue. I just can’t believe they want to fire all the pilots, fire all the paramedics and prevent people from getting the care they need. I think this is a new low.”
The Star has been publishing an ongoing series on ORNGE that has, so far, led to the removal of the air ambulance’s management and board, a new accountability structure, a scathing report by the provincial auditor general and a criminal investigation.
Klees said the NDP and PC’s are “frustrated” about the Liberal’s refusal to call a broader inquiry into the scandal.
“We have only one option left and we are using it in defence of patients, we are using it in defence of front-line paramedics and pilots and people working at ORNGE,” Klees said.
Published On Thu Jun 14 2012
The Progressive Conservatives want to cut off $150 million in ORNGE funding unless the Liberal government strikes a powerful probe to fully investigate the troubled air ambulance service.
The Tories say they’ll bring forward the budget motion this Monday. However, they will need support from the New Democrats in order to pull off the drastic move and, so far, the NDP is remaining tight-lipped on which way they’ll turn.
The Liberals were quick to accuse the Conservatives of playing politics with people’s lives over the amendment to the budget bill.
“We want one thing, a select committee to get to the bottom of this scandal,” said PC MPP Frank Klees, who has led the Tory charge in the legislature on the ORNGE scandal.
For months, an all party public-accounts committee has examined ORNGE’s questionable business contracts, web of now-bankrupt for-profit companies, high salaries and odd real estate deals.
After negotiations between the three parties, it was agreed the committee would be allowed to hold hearings throughout the summer. They’d like to hear from ORNGE founder Dr. Chris Mazza. If he is unable to attend due to medical reasons, Klees said he’ll ask Premier Dalton McGuinty to testify.
PC Leader Tim Hudak said the Tory gambit lands the future of ORNGE and its funding squarely in the hands of McGuinty.
“Somebody’s got to stand up and fight for patients,” Hudak said.
“If we want to restore confidence in our air ambulance we need to get to the bottom of this mess and clean it up.”
But NDP Leader Andrea Horwath isn’t convinced this is the right move. She is taking a wait-and-see position on the amendment.
“I don’t think anybody wants to see the ORNGE air ambulance system not be available to patients in Ontario,” she said.
“It’s too important for us to simply make a rash decision. I’m hoping that calmer heads are going to prevail here and that the Liberals are actually going to take a step down in this brinkmanship game they’re having with the Tories on the select committee.”
Reaction from the Liberal government was swift. They were quick to dismiss the motion as ludicrous as it would leave the province without emergency air ambulance service.
“I can’t believe it,” said Health Minister Deb Matthews. “I can’t believe they’d use patients as pawns with this issue. I just can’t believe they want to fire all the pilots, fire all the paramedics and prevent people from getting the care they need. I think this is a new low.”
The Star has been publishing an ongoing series on ORNGE that has, so far, led to the removal of the air ambulance’s management and board, a new accountability structure, a scathing report by the provincial auditor general and a criminal investigation.
Klees said the NDP and PC’s are “frustrated” about the Liberal’s refusal to call a broader inquiry into the scandal.
“We have only one option left and we are using it in defence of patients, we are using it in defence of front-line paramedics and pilots and people working at ORNGE,” Klees said.
-
Liquid Charlie
- Rank (9)
- Posts: 1461
- Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:40 am
- Location: YXL
- Contact:
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
Heard a radio interview yesterday and the opposition is calling for immediate termination of Orange funding -- shut the operation down sighting safety issues and of course everything else -- it's interesting for me to hear "safety" issues especially knowing the original requirements for crew and equipment way back when -- just shows you how greed, naivety and the perceived bottom line can totally undermine and compromise a vital service - like anything else -- it should be left to the professionals and government involvement should be strictly oversight.
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
I'm not directly involved but, it's got to be a little bit of an eye opener to the front line workers of just what is really going on here. Reconsider the first hand information that is coming through back channels. Forget company retaliation, the opposition will soon have the doors closed, and blame it all on the government. All the while quoting workers rights and "looking out for the well being of Ontario patients". 
They will sit through the summer, and they will soon have both Mazza and the Premier brought before this little circus. Prove the short falls, blame everyone possible from across the floor, then knock it down, then destroy it. All that's left is to have the T-shirts made and start the campaigning.
Their only agenda here is destruction. The assassination of the Ontario government itself.
OATA must be dancing in the streets...
Last year, "Klees Who? That Newmarket guy?
Will the Ontario's governing Liberals get into bed with the NDP on the budget? Things could get much worst for Ornge, as the backroom deals fly back and forth.
They will sit through the summer, and they will soon have both Mazza and the Premier brought before this little circus. Prove the short falls, blame everyone possible from across the floor, then knock it down, then destroy it. All that's left is to have the T-shirts made and start the campaigning.
Their only agenda here is destruction. The assassination of the Ontario government itself.
OATA must be dancing in the streets...
Last year, "Klees Who? That Newmarket guy?
Will the Ontario's governing Liberals get into bed with the NDP on the budget? Things could get much worst for Ornge, as the backroom deals fly back and forth.
-
126.7_STFU
- Rank 3
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:22 am
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
I think people are being a bit dramatic when it comes to the termination of ORNGE as it currently stands. Patients will still be transported. How many different operations actually do work on behalf of ORNGE again?
Who here thinks Mazza will go to prison along with his cronies?
Who here thinks Mazza will go to prison along with his cronies?
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
I wish I could find a list of the 18 people who were fired last winter.
-
Cat Driver
- Top Poster
- Posts: 18921
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:31 pm
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
This is Canada.
As soon as his shrinks say he has recovered from his trauma connected to the Ornge misunderstandings he will be appointed to a Senate seat.
As soon as his shrinks say he has recovered from his trauma connected to the Ornge misunderstandings he will be appointed to a Senate seat.
-
126.7_STFU
- Rank 3
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:22 am
Re: Mazza FIRED. Orgne in receivership
Don't you just want to start sobbing?
Poor Mr. Mazza, and his million dollar fortunes. Oh how sorry they all are once caught.
His opening remarks happen to be my favourite. His sons death was the soul cause of his hefty salary (which he cannot recall) , and he built ORNGE in memory of him.
Who wants to start a Mazza charity with me. He deserves some support.
Poor Mr. Mazza, and his million dollar fortunes. Oh how sorry they all are once caught.
His opening remarks happen to be my favourite. His sons death was the soul cause of his hefty salary (which he cannot recall) , and he built ORNGE in memory of him.
Who wants to start a Mazza charity with me. He deserves some support.
