Dave Braden Flamborough councillor

Ken Bosveld writer/editor

Joe Cooper East York Mirror The Watchdog

Andrew Sancton professor of Political Science University of Western Ontario

Michael Prue MPP Toronto East York

Margaret McCarthy Councillor, Flamborough

Toby Barrett MPP Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant

Faye McGee Councillor, City of Kawartha Lakes

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Rockton, Ontario, May 15, 2004

WHEREAS the government of the Province of Ontario has seen fit from time to time to force upon many residents of Ontario the amalgamation of local municipalities into larger municipal entities without the consent of those local residents;

AND WHEREAS it is believed that, first and foremost, municipal government should address the needs and aspirations of the residents of municipal communities;

AND WHEREAS it is believed that the structure of municipal government and any change thereto should be based upon the consent of local residents;

AND WHEREAS the government of the Province of Ontario has seen fit to ignore the result of a vote on a Minister's Question pertaining to the structure of municipal government in the City of Kawartha Lakes, and petitions from Chatham-Kent, Flamborough, Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek and Glanbrook;

AND WHEREAS the government of the Province of Ontario continues to ignore the reasonable request from the residents of several Ontario communities to consider the de-amalgamation of those same communities;

AND WHEREAS we believe in the advisability of creating an Ontario-wide alliance among like-minded communities to pressure the government of the Province of Ontario to permit the de-amalgamation of any community in which the demand for de-amalgamation has been or shall be demonstrated by traditional concepts of democracy.

NOW THEREFORE the following people declare the creation of, and our support for, the Ontario De-amalgamation Network and its reasonable and lawful objectives as shall be defined by its members from time to time.