Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Friday, January 20, 2012

Minister won't say how many deaths are linked to probe of Ornge service

Ontario's health minister won't say how many deaths are being investigated in connection with Ornge, the scandal-ridden provincial air ambulance service.

"I don't have the number that is under investigation right now," said Health Minister Deb Matthews.

She was responding to reports that at least four deaths of patients - and possibly more - are being probed.

News last month that Ornge CEO Chris Mazza was earning $1.4 million - more than any other public servant in the province - prompted the province to replace Mazza and the entire board of directors at Ornge.

It has since surfaced that the publicly funded company had sprouted a web of for-profit offshoots, including one that received a $6.7-million payment from the Italian company that supplied its helicopters.

A team of 10 forensic auditors are inside the company's plush headquarters, known to insiders as the "Crystal Palace," and will soon issue a report.

Premier Dalton McGuinty also touted his government's own "hands-on approach" to the troubled company, referring to the decision to replace the entire board and CEO.

Without saying when, he said a meeting was held in response to the creation of private, for-profit Ornge offshoots.

Matthews has pledged an early release of a report by the provincial Auditor General.

Original Article
Source: Ottawa Citizen 

No comments:

Post a Comment