York police board swears in new member with ties to Ford

Newmarkettoday.ca
April 27, 2023

Madeleine Bodenstein officially joined the Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board today at its monthly meeting.

Bodenstein was sworn in after being appointed to the board by the Ontario government.

The appointment came with some controversy when media reports revealed Bodenstein sat at Premier Doug Ford's table at his daughter's wedding last fall.

She joins Mario Cortellucci, president of a Vaughan-based development company, who also sat at the premier’s table and was appointed to the board Oct. 20, less than a month after the wedding.

"All of her experience and skills that she has acquired throughout her career will serve her well on the York Region Police Services Board,” said board chair Wayne Emmerson.

She is a funeral director, grief planning specialist, real estate person, insurance agent, and property manager. She has served the community by sitting on many boards, including the Reena Foundation and Farm Rehab.

He added that the most important point is that Bodenstein is a resident of Vaughan.

Bodenstein's appointment to the police services board was automatically approved. Appointees are called to appear before the government agencies committee, however they are not forced to do so and their appointment is automatically approved after 30 days.

In March, the NDP requested that Bodenstein come to the government agencies committee. By the committee's last meeting April 13, Bodenstein hadn't shown up and the NDP asked for consent to extend the deadline to May 16, which was declined by the PCs.

Provincial appointees to the York police board get a $9,869 honorarium in 2023 from the Regional Municipality of York, according to a spokesperson for the region.

The police board is made up of civilian members appointed by the province and the region. The current members are:

• Wayne Emmerson, York Region chair and CEO;
• Steve Pellegrini, mayor of King Township (regional appointee);
• Mario Cortellucci, Vaughan developer (provincial appointee); 
• Linda Jackson, Vaughan deputy mayor and regional councillor (regional appointee);
• Norma McCullough, former probation and parole officer (regional appointee);
• Walter Perchal,  former senior Canadian Forces officer, York University faculty member(provincial appointee); 
• Madeleine Bodenstein, Vaughan funeral director, real estate agent (provincial appointee).