Over-exposed: Ontario MPP Jack MacLaren admits using fake photos

There is no greater currency in the political world than a glowing testimonial from a constituent about how you helped them cut through red tape, or solve a problem. Those sorts of things are considered a politician's stock in trade.

Emphasis -- in Ontario MPP Jack MacLaren's case -- on "stock". 

MacLaren, the Progressive Conservative member of the Ontario legislature for Carleton-Mississippi Mills, near Ottawa, has admitted he used stock photos of random people with fake names on his website, and claimed they were satisfied constituents. 

Ottawa Citizen columnist David Reevely exposed the images as fakes. 

"I think any of them by themselves would have been fine. But when you look at a whole packet of six of them there was something a little too perfect about each of them,'  Mr. Reevely tells As it Happens guest host Laura Lynch. 

The MPP's website is currently not active, and he didn't return our calls. His staff provided this statement from MacLaren. 

"Measures were taken to protect the privacy of individuals who provided positive feedback to my office. While this was not intended to be misleading, I recognize that it was improper. I apologize and have asked for the content to be removed immediately." 

MacLaren also had to apologize last week after he told sexist jokes about a Liberal MP he had invited on stage at a local charity event. 

Late Wednesday, Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown removed MacLaren as the Eastern Ontario representative in the PC caucus. As of 5:45pm, MacLaren's website was down.

To hear more, take a listen to our full interview.