Responding to reports a forensic audit team has been ordered "to follow the public dollars" at ORNGE, the air ambulance service provider says it welcomes the move.
CTV News Queen's Park reporter Paul Bliss was told Thursday that the salary of the ORNGE chief executive and president has raised serious concerns with Minister of Health, Deb Matthews.
Matthews, who called the compensation "shocking and appalling," has requested that an audit team from the Ministry of Finance determine how much of the salary includes taxpayer dollars.
ORNGE receives $150 million a year from taxpayers to provide air ambulance services.
The company has 12 separate divisions including a "for-profit" division, not funded by taxpayers.
ORNGE only recently disclosed executive salaries to the government, after pressure from the minister.
"We welcome the minister's decision to send in the auditors," the company said in an email to CTV.
It added that it looks forward to "supporting the actions of the auditor."
Meanwhile, following a sudden announcement Thursday, ORNGE chief executive Chris Mazza has temporarily stepped down.
The company's chairman of the board said in a letter to staff that Mazza was taking a medical leave.
"The board of directors and ORNGE and ORNGE Global met last night and I am writing to inform all staff that Dr. Mazza will be on an indefinite medical leave…I ask that everyone respect his privacy and that of his family during this time."
