Gordon Prentice at Large - Politics in Newmarket
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
The use of uniformed York Regional Police officers as stage props in election campaigns is more widespread than I thought.
This one from Tom Vegh looks innocent enough. Who would be against a Neighbourhood Watch scheme? No-one could possibly be against the idea of keeping residents safe.
But the photo showing Vegh with York Regional Police Officer Riczard Wojtulewicz explicitly promotes Vegh's re-election as Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor.
I am left wondering if Constable Wojtulewicz
- Was aware that the photograph was being used in Tom Vegh’s re-election campaign
- Was asked by Vegh or anyone acting on his behalf for his permission to use the photograph for election campaign purposes
- Consented to its use in this context
And, importantly, were York Regional Police aware of, or did they authorise, the use of this photo in Tom Vegh's campaign?
I am in touch with York Regional Police about this.
Update at 13.10 on 13 October 2026: This morning I received a reply from the Regional Solicitor which says the photo above is in order.
I have now filed a complaint with the Inspector General of Policing in Ontario. (Click 'Read more" to see both.)
Update on 14 October 2026: Email from the Inspectorate of Policing saying the matter is outside its jurisdiction. (See below)
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
Let's not beat about the bush. 
Newmarket’s Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Tom Vegh lies through his teeth.
Newmarket Today asked Newmarket’s Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor, Tom Vegh, how he would rate himself on both his attendance and involvement at the council table.
Vegh claimed he has only missed two Newmarket council or committee of the whole meetings and regional council meetings.
“I take representing Newmarket seriously, and being present, prepared and engaged is fundamental to that responsibility. Involvement goes beyond attendance. At Newmarket council, I participate fully in discussions and decision-making.”
“At York Region, much of the detailed work takes place through committees and boards before matters reach Regional Council.”
Vegh’s figures are out by a mile.
I calculate that Vegh missed six York Regional Council meetings during the 2022-2026 term (27 April 2023, 21 December 2023, 21 March 2024, 25 April 2024, 26 March 2026 and 24 September 2026) and one Committee of the Whole meeting (13 June 2024).
In addition, Vegh missed five Newmarket Council meetings (on 23 January 2023, 24 April 2023, 28 June 2023, 20 November 2023, 25 March 2024) and six Committee of the Whole meetings (on 23 January 2023, 17 April 2023, 23 October 2023, 26 February 2024, 18 March 2024 and 23 February 2026).
The dissembling Tom Vegh takes us all for fools. He is a complete disgrace.
We pay him handsomely for turning up to work. Even though he has nothing significant to say when he gets there.
The Inn From the Cold
Some things continue to intrigue me. Why was he absent on 13 June 2024 when his successor as Executive Director of the Inn From the Cold, Ann Watson, was making a deputation. If I were in his position I would have bust a gut to be there. In the same way he sucked his thumb and said nothing at York Regional Council in September 2022 when John Taylor called for additional funding for the IFTC.
What is the point of Tom Vegh if he can't speak out for a homelessness charity he used to run. What's the story there?
Anyway... we know the absent-minded Tom Vegh has a very bad memory. Or he is an accomplished liar.
Probably both.
I think he owes Newmarket Today and its readers an apology.
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
Tom Vegh who is seeking a third term as Newmarket's Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor tells Newmarket Today that opening a second branch of Newmarket Public Library should be a priority in the next term of Council.
I've just written to Tom asking for a meeting to discuss his plans for the library. He says he's never refused a meeting request and he replies within 24 hours.
Good boy! That's what I like to hear.
I am really looking forward to an evening in conversation with Tom about something he feels so strongly about.
The Library has been a priority of his for many, many years.
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
I owe Ward 2 candidate Pamela McCarthy an apology.
On 2 October 2026 I called on Pamela McCarthy to remove a photo on her election website showing her flanked by uniformed York Region police officers.
I declaim it is against the rules!
The Regional Solicitor says it is permitted.
Hmmmm. In many years in elected office in the UK I had always been brought up to believe that using police officers as stage props in election campaign materials was way out-of-bounds. It crossed a line.
Clearly, I was wrong.
There is nothing to stop any candidate campaigning on "safer streets", "crime" or "law and order" (or, indeed, anything else) to pose with a York Regional police officer and use the image on their election website, flyers and social media.
But it must be done in such a way that the photo does not suggest an "affiliation or endorsement".
That's the tricky bit.
I am left wondering if it is OK to put your arm around the shoulder of your smiling neighbourhood police officer (with their consent) while saying the police are underpaid for the work they do.
Yeah... that's OK.
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
The former Conservative Solicitor General Bob Runciman says it’s time for the RCMP to come clean with Ontarians on their investigation into the Greenbelt scandal.
In this morning's paper, he tells the Toronto Star’s excellent Robert Benzie:
“It’s unconscionable on their part not to make a public statement, give some sort of update with respect to where the investigation stands.” (Click “read more” below.)
Personally, I think it’s a disgrace.
People under suspicion can’t get on with their lives. After three years, memories fade.
Over the years I've blogged extensively on the Greenbelt scandal. From the word go, I was both intrigued and outraged that the developer Michael Rice had bought a huge slab of land in the Greenbelt at Bathurst and offered part of it to Southlake as the site of its second hospital.
Public Inquiry needed
In September 2023 I accused the Ford Government of being deeply corrupt and that a public inquiry was needed. That is still my view but, like everyone else, I wait to see what the RCMP comes up with.
I don’t know what’s causing the delay. It is impossible to find out how many officers the RCMP has assigned to the investigation. So I can’t compare the size of the Greenbelt investigation team with other comparable inquiries in the past.
Gas Plants
The closest parallel is the gas plants scandal which involved the destruction of Government records. That took two and a half years. It involved the investigation of possible criminal breach of trust involving the Premier’s Office.
The police are not a law unto themselves.
Yes, they must investigate possible breaches of the criminal law and go where the evidence takes them. But, as Bob Runciman says, it is not in the public interest to have a long drawn-out investigation with, apparently, no end in sight.
This leisurely plodding, this lack of urgency is absolutely criminal.
Click "read more" for the Star article.
Read more: The Greenbelt Scandal: Why on earth is the RCMP investigation taking so long?