Two top officials with Ontario’s air ambulance service have been terminated, the company and the health minister say.
Ornge Global GP Inc. and Ornge Global Holdings LP have gone into receivership, and CEO Chris Mazza and COO Maria Renzella have been terminated, both the service and Deb Matthews stated Thursday.
Mazza and Renzella have been told that no severance would be offered.
“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.
However, the New Democrats pointed out the Ornge statement does not say severance wasn't paid to Mazza by one of the company's many subsidiaries.
In December, the health minister cleaned house at Ornge after the Toronto Star reported on its questionable business practices, posh headquarters and high executive salaries.
Mazza went on medical leave the same month after his $1.4 million salary was disclosed.
The entire Ornge board of directors was replaced, and the air ambulance service was ordered to shut down its other for-profit companies.
Last week, the outgoing board of directors announced it accepted the recommendation from the Ontario government to appoint seven new volunteer board members. Ian W. Delaney, former CEO of Sherritt International Corp. became the board’s new chair.
The other new board members include:
- Charles Harnick, principal at Counsel Public Affairs.
- Patricia Lang, former president of Confederation College.
- Barry McLellan, president and CEO, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
- Maneesh Mehta, Co-founder of the Black Box Institute, member of the board Central Local Health Integration Network.
- Patrice Merrin, chairman of the Board and Interim CEO of CML HealthCare.
- Patricia Volker, instructor at Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.
Matthews said the new board and interim CEO will be moving to make further changes particularly in the areas of patient care and safety.
With files from The Canadian Press