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Written by Gordon Prentice

Published: 21 September 2022

Oxford Canadian Dictonary

On Tuesday (20 September 2022) Regional Council candidate, Tom Vegh, told the Toronto Star he "received a handful of donations from developers in 2018" but had never been influenced by them. 

In fact, 78% of Vegh's campaign cash came from people intimately involved in the development industry and in the eco-system that supports it - people in the planning consultancies and so on. 

An eyewatering $33,150 came from development industry people including donations from Joanne Barnett (Vice President of the Kerbel Group and Marianneville which is developing Glenway and 600 Stonehaven); from Jeff Kerbel himself and Sam Reisman from the Rose Corporation which is involved in major projects in Town.

The full list, shown here and highlighted in yellow, is from Vegh's own Financial Statement submitted to the Town of Newmarket after the 2018 election as required by law.

I shall be making copies of Vegh's Financial Statement available to the public at the Chamber of Commerce "Meet and Greet" on 27 September at Doug Duncan Drive from 6pm-8pm.

Voters, if they so choose, will be able to ask Vegh to his face to identify the "handful of developers" who bankrolled him. I hope his answers are captured on cell phones.

The list of donors includes the movers and shakers in the development industry.

Tom Vegh sold out years ago.

He dances to their tune and has the brass neck to deny it.

And he refuses to defend his record in a public debate with me - chaired by someone of his own choosing.

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Details

Written by Gordon Prentice

Published: 20 September 2022

Tom Vegh takes tens of thousands of dollars from people in the development industry - and I don't.

He is in their pocket and I am not.

It really is as simple as that.

From today's Toronto Star.

Click 'read more" below the photo to read the full article.

Read more: "Don't tell me they don't expect something in return": Why municipal election candidates in the...

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Written by Gordon Prentice

Published: 18 September 2022

Tom Vegh won the 2018 regional council election on the back of barrow-loads of money from people in the development industry. 

They gave him tens of thousands of dollars.

And he paid them back handsomely by voting for development which will eat up green fields and pave them over. 

That's a big deal. 

Vegh voted for York Region's flawed Official Plan and Newmarket's Mayor, John Taylor, voted against.

Leadership you can count on

Vegh posts a photo on Facebook holding his new lawn sign.

No mention of his fatuous and misleading 2018 slogan:

Leadership you can count on

Nothing this time about focussing on your priorities.

A new Library and Seniors' Centre

What happened to his signature election promise to deliver a new Library and Seniors' Centre?

In 2018 he told the voters the time for talking was over.

Both promises were abandoned the day after the election. He was unwilling and unable to argue the case with his council colleagues. He folded without even fighting his corner.

In 40 ordinary meetings of York Regional Council in the 2018-2022 term Vegh did not table a single motion in his name, bringing it forward for debate.  

Getting Results

He says he has been on the Council for 20 years and has a "demonstrated track record of getting results".

What precisely is he claiming credit for?

One week ago I challenged Vegh to a public debate at Newmarket Public Library with a moderator (or umpire) of his own choosing in the Chair. I gave him three dates, asking him to pick the one that was most convenient for him.

Nothing. Not even the courtesy of a reply.

Just radio silence.

Timid Tom Vegh.

Afraid to debate the issues. 

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Vegh tells his Facebook readers: 

"As a 20-year sitting member on Newmarket Council, I have a solid understanding of your issues and needs, and a demonstrated track record of getting results. I will continue working on your behalf, to build on Newmarket’s success and enhance the quality of life in our neighbourhoods. I will ensure we continue to receive value for our tax dollars and that high-quality services are delivered in a professional and cost-efficient manner."

"I was raised in Newmarket and raised my family here. I love Newmarket and the responsibility that comes with planning the future of our great town. I know the job and I am ready to keep working hard for you and with you to ensure Newmarket remains the best place to live, work and raise families."

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Written by Gordon Prentice

Published: 17 September 2022

The charity "Environmental Defence" has issued a challenge to candidates running for election in the 905 on 24 October 2022. And, implicitly, also to voters.  

They say:

"Barring a dramatic u-turn by the provincial government, for the next four years, much of the burden of diverting new homes away [from] farmland and natural spaces, slashing carbon emissions, and ending car-dependency will fall on the 905’s City, Regional, and local governments.

The good news is that there’s a great deal municipal governments can do – as long as this October’s elections produce mayors and councils committed to delivering the policy changes needed to protect Ontario’s environment."

Environmental Defence then lists a series of municipal policy proposals and initiatives that in the 905

"would have the biggest positive impact on Ontario's environment"

which would help voters

"distinguish environmental champions from environmental villains."

I'm signed up.

East Gwillimbury: our sprawling next door neighbour

Even in the relatively short time I have been living here in Canada - since 2010 - the sprawl is in your face. It is everywhere.

And with Ford pressing ahead with the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413 things are only going to get worse.

The map on the right shows our neighbour to the immediate north, East Gwillimbury, where explosive growth is going to occur on open countryside north of Green Lane.

Regional Councillor Tom Vegh voted for this. Newmarket's Mayor, John Taylor, voted against. 

The key is shown in the large map below.

The "New Community Areas" are shown in grey hatching. The "Future Urban Area" is shown in purple hatching.

Environmental Degradation

All around us we see the signs of environmental degradation.

The Canadian North is warming three times faster than the rest of the planet.

The permafrost is rapidly thawing, leaving roads buckling and houses tilting at crazy angles.

Climate change is with us, here and now.

So... What are we going to do about it?

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You can access the York Regional Official Plan here. Go to the Plan and open Maps. 1B below shows how the built up area is forecast to expand massively. Here are the relevant definitions from the York Regional Official Plan:

Community Area