Gordon Prentice at Large - Politics in Newmarket
- Details
- Written by: Gordon Prentice
On Aug 18, 2022, at 5:37 PM, Tom Vegh <
Dear Gordon,
Thank you for your emails. If you were a regular constituent I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have on the work I do on Newmarket and York Region Councils on behalf of Newmarket residents. However, as you have declared yourself a candidate in the upcoming municipal election, I am sure you can understand my reluctance to engage with you during the campaign period.
I wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
Tom
From: Gordon Prentice <
Date: August 18, 2022 at 9:52:18 PM GMT+1
To: Tom Vegh <
Subject: Re: Campaign contributions from persons known to be associated with the development industry
Hello again Tom
I am grateful for your reply which is, I am afraid, totally inadequate.
You say you will not answer my questions because (a) I am candidate and (b) we are in the campaign period.
This is precisely when you should be engaging with me and explaining your decision to accept developers’ money to fund your campaigns.
Will you give a commitment to join me on a public platform to debate the issues?
I am copying this to Joseph Quigley at Newmarket Today.
Gordon
Sent from my iPad
- Details
- Written by: Gordon Prentice
Running for election shouldn’t be an arms race with the prize going to the candidate who spends the most.
The provisional campaign expense limit for the office of Regional Councillor, calculated by the Town Clerk taking into account the number of electors, is an eye-watering $52,166.50.
I learn I can spend up to $16,098 of my own money.
I have no intention of spending anything close to these stratospheric amounts. My campaign will be light and nimble and frugal. And honest.
The cost of each Vegh vote
I expect to spend a fraction of Tom Vegh’s campaign budget which will be padded out by fat cheques from developers.
In 2018 Vegh’s campaign income totalled $49,489.
His expenses came in at $45,846.
And he got 8,570 votes.
Each vote cost him $5.34
Measles
Vegh spent $8,590 on advertising; $25,358 on brochures and flyers and $11,472 on signs which were absolutely everywhere. The Town looked as if it had measles.
But, interestingly, he spent nothing on hosting meetings. No surprises there. Tom Vegh is a man of few words.
In 2018 the voter turnout was a less than stellar 34.7%.
Here is the result last time:
Tom Vegh: 8,570
Chris Emanuel: 7,952
Joan Stonehocker: 2,688
- Details
- Written by: Gordon Prentice
After last month’s debate on social media at York Regional Council, I contacted my MP, Tony Van Bynen, on 11 July 2022 asking him to lift the block on his Twitter account which prevents me from reading his Tweets and posting comments. 
I sent him the background materials prepared by the Regional Clerk which recommended that blocking should be a last resort and that members of the Regional Council should be prepared to give reasons for blocking someone. In the event, the recommendation was lost by 13 votes to 8.
This morning Van Bynen gets back to me:
“I have given your request much thought and to be quite honest I do not see any reason that I would change my mind. Your decision to run for municipal politics does not influence that decision. I hope you will find the experience of participating in a municipal election rewarding and insightful.”
and I reply:
“I am very disappointed.
You are my MP and I value your views even though I may not always agree with you.
Can I ask how many constituents you block and for what reasons?”
I find it deeply disappointing that my Member of Parliament freezes me out without giving reasons.
I don’t bite.
Click "Read More" to see my email to Mr Tony Van Bynen MP of 11 July 2022
Read more: MP vows to continue blocking me on Twitter but won’t say why