Saint John Hospital Foundation donor Bruce Dowd wants refund
Critics say the foundation was misleading by not telling the public that Moncton already had the equipment
The foundation's plans for a $900,000 DNA sequencing lab came to halt when Health Minister Victor Boudreau advised Horizon Health not to use the money for its intended purpose since the same equipment is available in Moncton.
Dowd wrote a cheque for $125,000 for the foundation's campaign. He is upset the money is sitting unused.
"If the equipment is not bought and the money is not used for that purpose, I want my money back," he said. "It's as simple as that."
The foundation made the pitch that genetic testing of cancer cells would enable Saint John doctors to deliver cutting-edge treatment.
Some critics say the foundation was misleading by failing to tell the public that Moncton already had genetic sequencing machines.
He says the foundation isn't to blame, but he did blame the former Progressive Conservative government for telling the foundation to go ahead.
"Unfortunately, the former government did not look at the capacity issue and wrongfully gave them the green light to move forward," he said.
Former health minister Ted Flemming says he stands by his decision.
"We were determined that we were going to de-politicize this process. And that's what we did." he said. "And this is absolutely outrageous and it throws away everything that we did."
Experts in charity ethics say the foundation should be talking to its donors and should give them the opportunity to take back their money.
Dowd says that is an opportunity he'd seize.
"If [the money] is not used for that purpose, the money should be refunded, as far as I'm concerned," he said.