The news came as ORNGE placed ORNGE Global, the for-profit entity Mazza created, into bankruptcy.
Also terminated was Maria Renzella, chief operating officer of ORNGE Global.
ORNGE said no severance package has been offered to either.
Both executives were on extended sick leave. A bankruptcy trustee has been appointed by the Ontario courts to wind up the affairs of the company.
ORNGE Global was created as a consulting firm and senior executives at the non-profit ORNGE Ontario were paid as consultants.
Some of its funding came from a $6.7 million payment from the Italian firm that received $144 million off Ontario taxpayer-financed funds when it sold helicopters to ORNGE.
An ORNGE spokesman said the bankruptcy does not affect the operation of the provincial air ambulance service.
Health Minister Deb Matthews said the bankruptcy of the two subsidiaries forced the government’s hand.
“Today, the for-profit ORNGE Global GP Inc. and ORNGE Global Holdings LP went into receivership, essentially ending their existence,” Matthews said in a statement.
“As a result, Dr. Chris Mazza, president and CEO, and Maria Renzella, chief operating officer, have been terminated and ORNGE has advised us that no severance has been offered,” she said.
“These are vitally important and necessary steps needed to restore the confidence of Ontarians in the leadership team responsible for Ontario’s air ambulance service.”
Matthews said “the forensic audit continues and we look forward to their findings and the auditor general’s value-for-money audit.
“We continue to seek and support the changes at ORNGE and continue to work with the new leadership as they strengthen Ontario’s air ambulance service,” she said.
Progressive Conservative MPP Frank Klees said the firings are far from the end of the saga.
“These are only two people. That head office is filled with individuals — who are still there — who were part of the decision-making process who benefitted from the decisions that were made. Why are they still there? What is taking so long?” he said.
Klees said he remains troubled by the $6.7 million payment by helicopter maker Agusta-Westland to an ORNGE subsidiary for a binder’s worth of marketing advice before the air ambulance service purchased 12 of the Italian firm’s aircraft.
NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh (Brampton-Gore-Malton) said the housecleaning at ORNGE is a start, but more must be done to clear the air.
“Faces are changing at ORNGE, but if the public is going to be served we need to know details the government still refuses to share,” said Singh.
“When will we see Mr. Mazza’s contract and other documents the minister of health refuses to release?” he said.
Original Article
Source: Star
Author: Kevin Donovan
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