For immediate release:
March 21, 2013
Queens Park – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett says more cost overruns at Ornge speak to the Health Minister’s continued lack of oversight with the air ambulance agency.
“Yesterday at public accounts, the replacement for Chris Mazza, Dr. Andrew McCallum, confirmed Ornge air ambulance has gone in the red by $2.5 million,” Barrett stated during Question Period. “Minister, as you know, $150 million a year flows into Ornge – money wasted on Harley choppers, a speedboat, kickbacks for helicopters not suited for CPR, and now we understand you are awarding employee bonuses of $2 million.
“Minister, how will this bonus bailout and how will the deficit that I just mentioned affect crucial operations at Ornge? How will it affect patient care? Are you planning cutbacks on essential services to pay for these bonuses?”
In response the Health Minister ignored Barrett’s concerns, choosing instead to crow about changes at the scandal plagued agency.
Barrett then rose again to illustrate the Minister’s lack of control over the agency Ontarians depend on for critical air ambulance services: “My question, Minister: Do you really know who’s in charge of this file? You have not met with the now CEO, Andrew McCallum. You never did meet with the old CEO, Chris Mazza.
“We want to know, what is your plan, Minister? Are you hiding behind the sofa or just planning on sweeping this under the rug?” Barrett concluded.
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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett
at (519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO OFFICIAL HANSARD
Thursday 21 March 2013
AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE
Mr. Toby Barrett: Yesterday at public accounts, the replacement for Chris Mazza, Dr. Andrew McCallum, confirmed Ornge air ambulance has gone in the red by $2.5 million. Minister, as you know, $150 million a year flows into Ornge. Money wasted on Harley choppers, a speedboat, kickbacks for helicopters not suited for CPR, and now we understand you are awarding employee bonuses of $2 million.
Minister, how will this bonus bailout and how will the deficit that I just mentioned affect crucial operations at Ornge? How will it affect patient care? Are you planning cutbacks on essential services to pay for these bonuses?
Hon. Deborah Matthews: A year ago the new board at Ornge made the decision—a decision I strongly support—not to award performance pay for this year. That decision was appealed to HRSDC. Ornge lost that appeal, so they are of course complying with the ruling from HRSDC. I do want to say that the new board at Ornge is doing a tremendous job. It is improving quality of care. It is enhancing access to care. We’re adding new staff at Ornge, and I think the people of this province are extremely well served by the new leadership at Ornge.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary.
Mr. Toby Barrett: Well, they’re going to have to make it up somewhere. Minister, we have seen this sorry tale of house loans, kickbacks, money wasted on Harleys, on that speed boat—$150 million a year of taxpayers’ money, no transparency, no accountability and no oversight whatsoever. Now we hear of more cost overruns, a deficit and $2 million in bonuses.
My question, Minister: Do you really know who’s in charge of this file? You have not met with the now CEO, Andrew McCallum. You never did meet with the old CEO, Chris Mazza
. We want to know, what is your plan, Minister? Are you hiding behind the sofa or just planning on sweeping this under the rug?
Hon. Deborah Matthews: Well, Speaker, I just don’t know where to start. Let me just clarify a few misconceptions.
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): The member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, I told you I could hear you, and I do.
Hon. Deborah Matthews: I have met with Mr. McCallum. In fact, I’ve seen him earlier this week.
I tried to meet with Dr. Mazza, but he wouldn’t come to the meeting. You don’t have to tell me—
Interjection: Who’s in charge?
Interjections.
Hon. Deborah Matthews: And he was out of his job shortly thereafter. I buy that.
Speaker, the member is telling us something we all know, that things were not as they ought to have been at Ornge under the old leadership. We have made significant changes. The entire leadership team is new. The board has been entirely—
Interjections.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Minister.
Hon. Deborah Matthews: The board has been entirely replaced. The new board is making significant efforts to recover some of the money that was inappropriately spent. We’re looking forward to receiving $1.1 million back, Speaker.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Answer.
Hon. Deborah Matthews: So things are back on track at Ornge. Patients are getting the care they need, and it will continue to improve as we go forward.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. New question.