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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."

Details

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

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Written by Gordon Prentice

Published: 13 September 2022

Newmarket Today is asking all candidates if they will accept campaign donations from developers. 

The paper deserves a round of applause for asking a simple, straightforward question which candidates cannot dodge. Even slippery Tom Vegh.

The on-line newspaper circulated its questionnaire to candidates yesterday. The paper says:

"Your response will be posted in Newmarket Today's election section when it is received - there is no deadline, we will continue to post the profiles until election day on Oct. 24."

Getting Regional Councillor Tom Vegh to admit that he takes money from developers is like pulling teeth.

It is a long drawn out process.

Tom may find it painful initially but it is better to get it over and done with, sooner rather than later. If he hesitates it's just prolonging the agony.

He can apologise for what happened in 2018.

Tom can say it was a mistake and he won't do it again. He won't take tainted money this time.

This will put the story to bed and we can start talking about the big issues facing the Town and York Region.

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Details

Written by Gordon Prentice

Published: 12 September 2022

"I am not corrupt."

"You know, $1,200 or whatever someone is giving me, I don't think that's nearly enough to influence anyone in any corrupt way."

Tom Vegh, 22 April 2019

The silence from Tom Vegh is deafening.

Over one month ago I asked him if he was taking money from people intimately connected with the development industry to fund his 2022 campaign.

Poisoned well

Is he returning to the the same poisoned well from which he drank so deeply in 2018?

Or is he going to reject money from development industry people?

And is he going to return any money from them which is unsolicited?

He says he refused to accept some money from some donors in 2018. He says he wasn't comfortable taking it. Will he tell us the reasons he rejected the cash?

Does he intend to go into overdraft to fund his 2022 campaign as he did in 2018?

Vegh can run but he can't hide

Vegh cannot avoid answering these questions. The press and media and the voters will not allow him to sail through this election campaign, unwilling to comment, saying nothing.

Once Vegh tells us how he is funding his 2022 campaign we can move on to debate the big, substantive issues facing the Town and the Region.

But, until he comes clean, I am sitting on his shoulder.

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