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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