2 ambulance service executives under investigation in B.C.

The B.C. Provincial Health Services Authority has confirmed that two of its executives are under investigation.

Michael MacDougall, president of Emergency Health Services and executive vice-president of the PHSA, and Les Fisher, chief operating officer of the B.C. Ambulance Service, were put on administrative leave withpay yesterday.

PHSA spokesman Darwin Sauer said a third-party investigator has been hired by the province to look into their management practices.

Sauer wouldn't provide more detail, though he did clarify "this is not a criminal investigation."

He said the two men's positions have been filled for the time being.

"So operations will be maintained and enhanced under the leadership that's been put in place and there will be no impact on patient care," he said.

Fisher had been chief operating officer overseeing close to 4,000 paramedics and dispatchers in B.C. for almost five years. MacDougall was in his position for a year and a half.

The union is not yet commenting on their removal.