Ornge Scandal 2.0: Why Didn’t the Premier Know?

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario’s Official Opposition continued to demand answers from the Liberal Government following yesterday’s news that Ornge was planning on leasing another helicopter from AgustaWestland.

“I do not understand why the government is doing business with a company under a criminal investigation here in the province of Ontario,” said Leader of the Official Opposition Patrick Brown.

Ornge had previously paid AgustaWestland $148-million USD for 12 helicopters, after which AgustaWestland returned $2.9-million USD to Ornge’s ‘charitable foundation’ and $4.8-million USD for ‘future marketing.’ These dealings are the subject of an ongoing OPP investigation.

“The CEO of Ornge kept up his end of the bargain. He sent the Health Minister a letter last month and told him that Ornge was getting back into bed with Agusta Westland,” added Patrick Brown. “He waved that big red flag. The failure here is with the Minister and the Premier.”

Despite the Liberal Government receiving the aforementioned letter, the Premier said yesterday in Question Period “I do not know the nature of this particular decision.”

“Can the Premier explain why she knew nothing about such a controversial deal? Can she tell us why she isn’t doing her job to protect Ontario’s patients and taxpayers?” concluded Brown.