YES - In the 2003 Municipal Election, the people of the City of Kawartha Lakes voted to de- amalgamate and restore their former 2-tier (County) structure. Yet Dalton McGuinty’s Provincial government still has not honoured this democratic vote.

In fact Minister Gerretsen said “not at this time”.

He then specified 3 conditions which must be met for the Province to consider restructuring:
1. The request must come from Council
2. The resulting structure must show tax fairness.
3. Resulting municipalities must be financially sustainable.

Far less than not doing it! At the time of the referendum, the cost to de-amalgamate was estimated at $128 per household Since then, average taxes have climbed by more than that!

Of course we can! Montreal has already done it! After a similar referendum (which was honoured by their Premier) Montreal de- merged on January 1, 2006.

The Corporation of the City of Kawartha Lakes would become the County level, and initially assume the current “City” responsibilities. Newly elected municipal councils would then determine which responsibilities, services and corresponding assets and liabilities they would assume.

In 2000 residents of Victoria County were told that an unelected Commissioner would in the space of 90 days decide the fate of their municipal government. The people responded with a record number of written submissions, and filled hearing-rooms with capacity crowds. A 900-signature petition was presented to the Ontario Legislature,

     Their voices were ignored, and their local governments removed.

     Voices of Central Ontario (or VOCO, in Latin: "I speak") was formed by a group of citizens determined to give people a chance to be heard.

On Jan 1, 2001 the County of Victoria and all her municipalities ceased to exist, replaced by the 16 wards in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Our villages and townships, once individual Corporations with elected Councils are now mere road signs. Local issues that were handled by those councils are now controlled by "the City" in which a ward representative is just one voice among 17 (including the mayor).

No, we didn't ask for it! Though County Council had voted against requesting a Commissioner, one municipality (Emily) made the request. The Province then imposed amalgamation on the entire County through an appointee, Harry Kitchen a professor from Peterborough. Disregarding the petition, numerous delegations, and 613 written submissions (more than 75% opposing a single-tier "City") he decided our fate and our name: "the City of Kawartha Lakes".