The Liberal who lost to Conservative Julian Fantino in the Vaughan federal by-election says he was fired from his position as chair of the regional hospital board as political payback.

“This is a real kick in the teeth,” Tony Genco told the Star of his firing from the volunteer position early Monday. “It’s bizarre to me, but they’ve decided I’ve become a political liability. I feel humiliated.”

The board of York Central Hospital is working to expand health service in the area with a new hospital in Vaughan. Fantino embraced the issue during the campaign, making the fight for federal infrastructure dollars for the hospital a central plank in his platform.

Genco says he believes the board wants him out to facilitate relations over the new hospital with Fantino and the Conservative government. Genco lost by about 1,000 votes in the Nov. 29 vote, after a rough and often personal campaign.

The board is “doing what the Tories want them to do,” he said, “which is to get rid of me . . . Now I’ve lost twice. This isn’t how things should be done — this is not a Third World country.”

Acting chair Dina Palozzi denies the firing was political or had anything to do with the board’s future relations.

“After deliberating for a period of time, we came to the conclusion it was best for the hospital, and the best interests of the hospital, to renew our leadership,” she said.

She said she knew of no pressure from the Conservatives to dump Genco, adding that the board’s only goal is to help bring a hospital to Vaughan.

Genco was appointed board chair last June for a two-year position.

He points out that other board members, including Michael DeGasperis, a prominent Vaughan businessperson, remain on the regional hospital board, despite having been active on the Fantino campaign.

DeGasperis, also board chair of the Vaughan Health Care Campus of Care, another organization that supports the new hospital, appeared with Fantino during the campaign. At the event, Fantino pledged to make “a passionate and forceful case” on Parliament Hill for both a new hospital and broader health services.

Fantino described himself as a “vocal advocate, supporter and fundraiser for the Vaughan hospital over the years, co-chairing the highly successful fundraising committee last year.”

Pelozzi said it’s not against board policy for members to be involved in partisan politics, but added the chair should be non-partisan. As a public institution, she added, it’s best for the hospital “not to be seen in a partisan way.”

But Genco says there’s nothing in the rules making any distinction for the chair.

The board advised Genco in late October to take a leave of absence for the campaign. Palozzi said it wouldn’t have been appropriate to tell Genco he couldn’t run if he expected to remain board chair.

Genco made a plea to stay on to the board early Monday morning. He said he talked about his commitment, as well as his achievements.

But, in a letter to Genco later that day, Palozzi wrote: “As you know, the board has been discussing the appropriateness of your continuation as board chair . . . (and has) conducted a number of special board meetings during your leave of absence to deliberate this issue from a process and decision-making perspective.”

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

The letter says: “Effective Dec. 13, 2010, Tony Genco ceases to be the chair of York Central Hospital.”

Palozzi said in an interview the board hopes Genco will remain as a member.

Read more about: