ORNGE founder Chris Mazza, who was paid $4.6 million in his last two years at the air ambulance firm, wants a court to award him $1 million more.

In a counterclaim to ORNGE’s attempt to recoup money from Mazza, the one-time president and CEO says he is owed $1 million in performance bonuses (an amount that includes interest) he should have been paid several years ago.

This is the second time Mazza, who became a household name around Queen’s Park in late 2011, has surfaced in the news in the past week. Opposition critics are upset that Mazza is working as an emergency room doctor in Thunder Bay, saying he should not be receiving public funds.

Meanwhile, the OPP probe into allegations that Mazza received a kickback from an Italian helicopter firm continues.

“Mazza claims against ORNGE the sum of $1 million,” according to a document filed by his lawyer in court. The document refers to the amount as “performance awards” that Mazza should have received.

Mazza started ORNGE in 2005. A Star investigation that began publishing stories in late 2011 revealed that he had diverted money from the non-profit ORNGE to a series of for-profit companies he had set up. In setting up the companies, he created a sort of shield that prevented public scrutiny of many things, including his salary and the salary of most of the senior executives.

In his legal documents, Mazza states the money he is owed was related to his 2009 and 2010 performance bonuses, which he was “entitled to.”

ORNGE spokesman James MacDonald said the air ambulance firm denies the allegations Mazza has made stating that he is owed money. Beyond that, MacDonald said ORNGE cannot comment because the matter is before the courts.

Mazza’s claim comes on the heels of ORNGE’s attempts to recoup money from him after he lost his job in early 2012. Mazza also states his termination was “without cause.”

The Star’s ongoing investigation has previously revealed Mazza was paid $1.5 million in 2010, which included salary of $1.1 million, with the remainder a “stipend” for working as medical director while being CEO and president.

The Star does not have a breakdown of his 2009 earnings.

Mazza states that he deserved performance bonuses because he had a “superior rating” in each year he worked at the air ambulance firm. He said he officially started receiving bonuses in 2011, but was due them in 2009 and 2010.

According to Mazza, a deal was reached to provide him with the equivalent of those bonuses in a housing loan. That housing loan is something ORNGE has gone to court to recoup from Mazza. Mazza, in his pleadings, said the 2009-2010 bonuses should have been applied to the housing loan.

With Mazza seeking money from ORNGE, Mazza appears to be trying to convince the court he does not owe ORNGE any money.

None of the allegations in the lawsuit has been tested in court.

In his pleadings, Mazza states the former ORNGE board approved the financial arrangements.

That board resigned in 2012 and a new board has taken over.

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In addition to the millions Mazza earned during his time at ORNGE he also claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars of expenses including two ski trips.

In question period today, Health Minister Deb Matthews said ORNGE is “back on track” after the Mazza years. “ORNGE is now well into a new chapter,” Matthews said.

The news of Mazza’s counterclaim to the lawsuit by ORNGE had not broken when Matthews made this comment.

But later Thursday, she declined to comment on Mazza’s claims.

“Nothing surprises me when it comes to Chris Mazza,” Matthews said.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said it’s unbelievable that Mazza is suing the organization he left in tatters.

“This has become the theatre of the absurd,” she said. “Really, you can’t make this kind of stuff up. It’s worse than fantasy. It’s actually a horror story for Ontarians.”

Progressive Conservative Frank Klees also expressed outrage.

“This man has broken the public trust, he has undermined the integrity of our air ambulance service,” said Klees.