Ornge On Federal And Provincial Radar

Ontario’s troubled air ambulance service is coming under fire from federal investigators.
The report by Human Resources Skills Development Canada has found that Ornge failed to protect the health and safety of its helicopter pilots.
The report comes following the May 31st crash in northern Ontario where two paramedics and two pilots died in a remote area near Moosonee.
The helicopter was on its way to pick up a patient in a remote northern community early in the morning.
Federal investigators say Ornge failed to adequately educate the pilots on the health and safety hazards associated with northern operations, among other problems.
They are asking the agency to fix the problems by the end of May.
The crash is still being investigated by the Transportation Safety Board.
Health Minister Deb Matthews says they take the recommendations seriously and have already started making changes.
Matthews says they have provided additional training for helicopter pilots as well as revised operating procedures for night operation.
Solar lighting is being installed at 90 helipads in Ontario, including several in the north, to assist pilots at night.
Matthews adds Ornge is auditing all training records to identify any training needs for staff.
Matthews is rejecting opposition calls for an overhaul of the ORNGE board of directors following the report.