Newmarket’s Mayor, John Taylor, tells us that, as of this morning, Saturday, only 12% of voters have cast their ballot. 

Personally, I don’t blame the voters. I blame the system.

I agree with Nam Kiwanuka who co-hosts The Agenda with Steve Paikin on TVO.

She says:

“Voters need more time and opportunities to put questions to those seeking to represent them. We should have had more public debates for all positions in this election. I found out that there had been one for my local councillors — but only after it’d already happened.  There haven’t been any for the role of public-school-board trustee.” 

Elections need a bit of fizz and pizzazz to grab people's attention.

Here, my opponent Tom Vegh refuses to engage with me. 

Bowl of  Blancmange

I think of him as a bowl of blancmange. 

I see two problems.

There have been no public debates where people can see me forensically unpick Vegh’s program and record and call him out for what he is.

And the local press and media – no doubt in the interests of “balance” – have not followed up on stories which are crying out to be investigated. Tom Vegh’s refusal to participate in the debate at York Regional Council when a $1M capital grant to Inn From the Cold was at stake. He used to be Executive Director of the organisation. What gives?

And with the Mayor acclaimed, the voters think that nothing much is going to change and they get on with their lives.

They think the choice is between Tweedledum and Tweedledee where the difference between the two is vanishingly small.

Big mistake.

Gordon Prentice 22 October 2022