CFF Press Releases

The following articles are in Adobe Acrobat format (pdf). If you do not have Acrobat installed, download it here.

An Analysis of Bill 130

MUNICIPAL STATUTE LAW AMENDMENT ACT, 2006 AND COMMUNITY COUNCILS

The Committee to Free Flamborough has prepared a 3 page detailed analysis of Bill 130. To view and print the document, please click here.

---

News Release #23/ Letter to the Editor

Flamborough Chamber of Commerce survey verifies that de-amalgamation is the #1 issue

The Flamborough Chamber of Commerce election survey has verified the results of all surveys since the forced amalgamation with Hamilton. The survey, conducted by the FCC over a four day period late last month revealed a lot about issues in the community.

De-amalgamation and a binding referendum for democracy are front and center. The top two issues were de-amalgamation and high taxes. These go hand in hand. We thank the FCC for their efforts and for verifying the results of every survey-conducted since 2001. The following is a letter to the editor submitted by our secretary, Donna Olivieri.

The “BOTTOM LINE” (Flamborough Chamber of Commerce Insert) was clearly the bottom line in last week’s Review. De-Amalgamation rises to the summit of all issues and concerns in Flamborough.

YES, still in 2006!! Taxation concerns (which topped the survey results) are a direct consequence of our disastrous union with Hamilton. Therefore, the two most pressing issues in Flamborough are basically one and the same.

The citizens of Flamborough continue to put de-amalgamation at the top of their wish list!

For CFF this was music to our ears. After 4 long years of fighting, meeting, challenging, writing, protesting, listening and paramount to all of this, keeping up the good fight, we hear clearly, it has all been worth it. We have always believed it in our hearts but, somehow, statistics whisper softly in our ears……………..keep up the good fight.

Our battle began with Queen’s Park and it will end there. The Province has the full power to allow the City of Hamilton to hold a legal and binding referendum on de-amalgamation. With their permission and the support of our council (be sure to find out if the person you are supporting is in favour of a referendum or partnering with Hamilton) this is still a high possibility! Only apathy can sink this ship! Our petition sits quietly on the shelves at Queen’s Park…………the largest petition ever submitted to the Province. The voices it represents, still clearly stating their will!

What does this survey shout from the rooftops to the Provincial Government? Conservatives! Re-visit your gross error of forced amalgamation! Liberals! Your pledge to allow a referendum on this issue in the last election should have been honoured! CFF will be around to remind voters of your broken promises in 2007. The minute this matter looks like it could be the deciding factor in any political win or loss, it will be at the top of their priority list…again!!!

Amalgamation was predicted not to work. It has historically never worked world wide in unions of rural and suburban communities. In 6 years, it has proven locally it does NOT work!

Thank you, Flamborough, for reassuring CFF that our tireless years of commitment to this cause were not in vain. Silence is consent…let your voice be heard!

Sincerely,

Donna Olivieri,
Secretary-CFF

Side Note: I disagree with Mr. Kersten’s suggestion that this survey is just a “snap shot in time” and therefore not reflective of citizen’s views. Random polls conducted on the street are far more accurate than those done by “organized” telephone solicitation. Last year’s telephone poll conducted by the City of Hamilton on behalf of Mayor DiIanni, suggested that we were all quite pleased with the post- amalgamation conditions in Flamborough. Clearly, that survey was inaccurate.

Submitted by
Dennis Noonan
Media Relations Officer
Committee to Free Flamborough
519-624-1755

#19 Report Card on Amalgamation
July 13, 2005

#18 A Peoples Report Card on Amalgamation
January 17, 2005

#17 Blockade of the 400 Highways
January 17, 2005

#16 Various Items
July 30, 2004

#15 Results of the Quebec Referendum
July 6, 2004

#14 An Open Letter from the CFF
June 21, 2004

#13 Meeting with Ted requested
June 15, 2004

#12 Donna's Letter to Ted
May 15, 2004

#11 Gerretsen's True Response finally revealed
May 9, 2004

#10 Ted had a Response to the Petition
May 4, 2004

#9 Conference Information
April 27, 2004

#8 Purpose of and Speakers at Conference
April 5, 2004

#7 A Peaceful Funeral for Democracy
March 22, 2004

#6 Hazel McCallion as Keynote Speaker at Conference
March 8, 2004

#5 Funeral for Democracy at Queen's Park
March 8, 2004

#4 Conference Announcement
March 1, 2004

#2 McGuinty must step aside
Feb. 23, 2004

Regional De-amalgamation Meeting announced
Petition Campaign Underway
June 16, 2003

Free Flamborough Petition Presentation at Provincial Parliament
June 24, 2003

Formal Launch of "Free Flamborough" Campaign
May 12, 2003

---

Local Media

Hamilton Council to ask Province to Review Amalgamation Results

KEVIN WERNER
Flamborough Review,
Dec. 26, 2005

In a surprise decision, city councillors want the provincial government to review the results of amalgamations that occurred five years ago in Ontario - including in Hamilton. In response to a resolution passed by Kitchener City Council last month, Hamilton politicians want the Municipal Affairs Minister John Gerretsen to establish an independent "review of the results of amalgamation in Ontario."

The review would examine the principles of "affordability, accountability and political accessibility" to determine the benefits and negative aspects of amalgamation. The resolution has also been sent to members of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

Kitchener councillors voted this fall to revisit the amalgamation of that area's seven municipalities into one city.

The issue had been discussed in the 1990s, but nothing came of the debate. The Kitchener resolution, though, provided an opportunity for Flamborough councillor Margaret McCarthy to reiterate her opposition to the amalgamation of Flamborough into Hamilton.

"I don't think (amalgamation) works," said McCarthy, who introduced the resolution at last week's council meeting. Hamilton councillor Brian McHattie seconded McCarthy's motion.

"I think de-amalgamation will eventually happen in Hamilton," said McCarthy, noting that municipalities amalgamated in Europe and the United States are now either de-amalgamating, or are in the process of breaking up because municipal leaders have determined a "one-size-fits-all" governance structure doesn't work.

"(The current structure) is not responsive to residents' needs; it is not agile to be effective; and it can't react to the people."

Dennis Noonan, spokesperson for the Committee to Free Flamborough, was surprised that Hamilton councillors approved the resolution. Hamilton politicians have in the past rejected motions introduced by suburban councillors asking the province to de-amalgamate the city. "This puts the Liberals in a bind," he said.

Noonan said he had no indication councillors would be reviewing last week's resolution.

The CFF and the Glanbrook Freedom Train have been working with provincial officials since 2001 to de-amalgamate from Hamilton.

Don Barlow, chair of the Glanbrook Freedom Train, was less enthusiastic about the resolution. He pointed out Kitchener is involved in its own amalgamation debate and the resolution passed says nothing about de-amalgamating communities. Residents and politicians, said McCarthy, characterize Hamilton's amalgamated city, nearly five years after the merging of six municipalities into one, as a "centralized maze" that "confuses the average person."

Flamborough and Glanbrook residents remain furious that amalgamation was implemented to bail out a financially failing former city of Hamilton, she said, adding that suburban residents continue to deplore their lack of city services, while paying ever-higher taxes for programs they never receive.

Over the last five years, taxes have skyrocketed in Flamborough, Glanbrook and Ancaster while in some parts of the old city of Hamilton, taxes have slightly decreased.

One nagging problem that irritates the former Flamborough town councillor is the way money is spent in the city. During her Flamborough political years, councillors debated whether or not to pay a $100 bill. But in Hamilton piles of money, she says, are too easily approved without the proper review. One example is the $100 million it would have cost the city to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games, a bid she opposed.

McCarthy isn't hopeful the provincial government will commission the review, even though it should be the Liberals' duty to find out the true benefits or detriments of amalgamation. "Will the Liberals do it? That is the real question," she said. "Let's have the critical analysis to see if amalgamation is actually working."

---

Standing-room only at CFF Town Hall Meeting

DIANNE CORNISH
Flamborough Review, Nov. 25, 2005

Flamborough's destiny, if it ever gets provincial approval for restructuring, could well mean a dismemberment of the former municipality with three different sections going to neighbouring municipalities. That's the scenario preferred by the majority who voted on three restructuring options or maintenance of the status quo (remaining with Hamilton) at a town hall meeting held in Millgrove last Wednesday by the local de-amalgamation group, the Committee to Free Flamborough (CFF).

CFF spokesperson Dennis Noonan told the Review Tuesday that the final tally showed 150 favouring the three-way split that would see East Flamborough join Burlington, the former township's northwest corner merge with the Township of North Dumfries and the Region of Waterloo and the remainder join Brant County. There were 115 votes for Flamborough as a stand-alone community and 23 votes for the three-city model which proposed that Flamborough, Dundas and Ancaster amalgamate to form one city. No one voted for Flamborough to remain with Hamilton.

Noonan said "the high level of concern" held by Flamborough residents about the huge tax increases and waning municipal services was indicative in the large turnout at the Millgrove meeting and by the number of calls, about 50, that organizers received after the meeting from those who couldn't attend but still wanted to vote. About 30 additional ballots were distributed after the meeting and were included in the final tabulation. To prevent duplication, all voters were required to sign the ballots.

About 250 residents attended the meeting. They listened while Flamborough councillors Margaret McCarthy and Dave Braden expressed their dissatisfaction with the loss of local control and fiscal management that Flamborough has endured since becoming a part of Hamilton five years ago.

A late addition to the speakers' roster was Hamilton downtown councilor Bob Bratina, who dismissed notions that his appearance was motivated by a desire to run for mayor in the next municipal election.

During a telephone interview with the Review this week, Bratina said that he decided to attend the meeting after he and other city councillors received notice of it from the CFF. A town hall meeting appealed to him, he said, because he wanted the opportunity "as a man who loves the city" to speak with rural residents about their perspective on city government issues.

"I was not starting my mayoralty campaign," he said. "But I'm not saying I never will."

Bratina told the crowd, "Hamilton is spending beyond its means and is too big to manage." The city is also "living outside its boundaries," he charged, allowing that the rural perspective on issues is quite different than that of the city. He proposed that a restructuring process for the city be looked at - soon.

"There is no reason why we couldn't start it this month," he suggested.

Bratina said he would like city council's approval to look at the expectations raised by amalgamation, such as lower costs and less bureaucracy, to see if they have materialized.

There was no movement from anyone in the crowd when Councillor McCarthy asked, "Who, here, thinks amalgamation works well?" Amalgamation legislation "changed the course of history, in terms of grassroots representation," she pointed out. "It translated to us in terms of tax increases and service reductions."

McCarthy said the Ontario government needs to provide some sort of guarantee that a potential plan for restructuring has "a fighting chance."

Councillor Braden, who has challenged the city several times about its lack of fiscal management, suggested that the present form of city government has resulted in "a lot more expense and less services."

City debt is going up by $94 million a year, he maintained, a situation that the former Flamborough Township would never have tolerated.

"Economics was pretty important in Flamborough," he said, a fact validated later in the meeting by CFF chair Roman Sarachman, who displayed a graph indicating that taxes were much lower and stable under the township council.

Taxes, particularly in the suburban municipalities and most markedly in Flamborough, have soared since amalgamation. That wasn't news to many in the crowd, including one man who complained, "I believe I'm paying too much property tax. Which alternative (on the ballot) will bring our taxes back to pre-amalgamation levels?"

A murmur in the crowd answered, "None." But McCarthy suggested that with the revenue from the Flamboro Slots, the stand-alone community option would be viable.

Noonan said he is prepared to take both or either of the top two options to Queen's Park for consideration as a restructuring proposal.

"They want us to come back to them with a plan," he told the crowd

For the media link, please follow http://haltonsearch.com/hr/fp/story/3180927p-3684899c.html

---

Megacity idea a `big mistake' says Harris aide

IAN URQUHART
Toronto Star, Apr. 11, 2005

Eight years ago today, the round-the-clock filibuster against the bill amalgamating Toronto and its suburbs ended with a whimper at Queen's Park.
Ten days later, the bill was then voted into law.
The creation of the "megacity," as it came to be known, remains a lasting legacy of the Mike Harris government.
But now a senior aide to Harris says it was all a big mistake.
Guy Giorno — the brains behind the Harris regime and now a Bay Street lawyer — recently made a presentation at Ryerson University, jointly sponsored by Canada 25, in which he described amalgamation as both "bad public policy" and "bad politics."
It is bad public policy because, far from producing more efficient administrations, it actually drives up costs, he said.
And it is bad politics, at least for a Tory government, because it alienates small-c conservative voters in suburban and rural areas, he added.
Giorno said these arguments could be applied to all the amalgamations undertaken by the Harris government — including Hamilton, Ottawa, and Sudbury — but he focused his remarks on Toronto. hile the Toronto amalgamation was being debated inside the government, Giorno argued against it.
"Mine was, however, a minority view," he said.
He outlined several factors that drove the Toronto amalgamation agenda inside the government, including:

• "It was an elite priority." Giorno cited the following voices in support of amalgamation: John Honderich, then publisher of this newspaper and now an adviser to Mayor David Miller; Paul Godfrey, then head of Sun Media and now president of the Toronto Blue Jays; former mayor David Crombie; and the Toronto Board of Trade.
• While amalgamation was not part of the platform the Conservatives ran on in 1995, the arguments for it — "efficiency and savings" — meshed neatly with the government's publicly stated values. It also seemed to resonate with the government's downloading agenda — "a way to help local governments do better with less."
• There was an internal political champion for amalgamation: Al Leach, minister of municipal affairs. "He believed strongly in the merits of amalgamation. He was tenacious and he was fearless." His bureaucrats were also in favour of the move.
• The proponents of amalgamation managed to convince everyone that the status quo was not an option. "It was a masterful strategy because it took doing nothing off the table. But in fact, doing nothing ... was a perfectly viable alternative."

Perhaps out of deference to his former boss, in his presentation Giorno left out another key factor behind amalgamation: Harris himself became a convert to the cause.
While touring Europe as premier in the summer of 1996, Harris had some kind of epiphany as he realized that no one on the continent had heard of Ontario but they all recognized Toronto.
He came back enthused about the idea of amalgamation.
So is Giorno right? Was amalgamation a mistake?
It probably was "bad politics." That is why no previous government had attempted it.
But I am not convinced it was "bad policy." The political boundaries within the old Metro Toronto had long since lost their meaning to most citizens, but the divisions led to non-productive infighting among the municipal politicians and kept the city from presenting a united front to the country and the world.
Now, if the Liberals make the logical next step of giving greater powers and new revenue streams to the megacity — something the Conservatives shied away from — Toronto can take on the 21st century with renewed vigour and confidence.
In any event, amalgamation cannot realistically be undone. "Putting the toothpaste back in the tube," is how Premier Dalton McGuinty has described it in ruling out de-amalgamation.
Even if the Harris government made a mistake pushing it out of the tube in the first place.

---

Town says yes, County says No

Gerry T. Bulmer and Kris Hodgson
The Athabasca Advocate

A resounding voice from County of Athabasca residents has put a proposed merger with the Town of Athabasca to rest.
A strong turnout of over 2,500 County voters rejected amalgamation by almost a 5-1 margin, 2,082 votes to 456.
Town voters, by contrast, favoured amalgamation by approximately a 2-1 margin, 380 to 208.
County of Athabasca Reeve Lorraine Gislason said she accepts the outcome of the plebiscite. "We're disappointed, of course, but life goes on," she said. "We told the electorate that we would abide by the decision, and so we will."
There can be no denying the outcome, she admitted. Voter turnout in both the Town and the County was strong, estimated at roughly 30 per cent each.
"It's a very clear message," Gislason said.
Athabasca Mayor Al Wurfel agreed.
"They turned out in enough numbers to tell us what they think," he said. "Voters in town think it should happen and the voters in the county don't."
Athabasca District Chamber of Commerce President Trevor Martin, whose organization supported amalgamation, said the one-sidedness of the outcome surprised him. "It's shocking, actually. I thought it'd be a lot closer than that."
Wurfel said amalgamation is now a dead issue.
"As far as I am concerned, the issue is now dead," he said. "But that doesn't mean the problems are gone."
"I don't think it's completely dead," Gislason countered. "At some point in the future, some other council will probably raise the issue again."

---

Hurricane Warning

Sun, April 4, 2004

McCallion puts McGuinty on notice
By Linda Leatherdale

Warning for Premier McFly: Don't mess with feisty Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion. By the time a growing fight over de-amalgamation is over, Hurricane Hazel will blow Flip Flop McFly away.

Mark my words.

Now, here's the scoop:

McCallion plans to rally up the de-amalgamation troops on May 15 for a province-wide revolt, after Dalton McGuinty broke yet another promise.

That's right. You read it here ... another broken promise.

After lying to us about hydro caps, insurance, commercial property tax caps, the Oak Ridges Moraine development, 407 toll rollbacks, and on, and on -- he's done it again.

This time it's over a promise to allow the dismantling of the newly amalgamated City of Kawartha Lakes, if a provincially sanctioned referendum on Nov. 10 produced a majority vote. It did! In fact, 51.4% of voters in the municipal election said they wanted to see the City of Kawartha Lakes returned to 16 rural municipalities.

But now -- after McFly time and time again said he was against the Tories' amalgamation plan, was in favour of a de-amalgamation referendum, and was even quoted in the media on Oct 30, 2003, vowing that as premier he'd order a public vote on a possible break-up on the new City of Kawartha Lakes -- he's now saying "no, can't be done."

MCGUINTY'S EXCUSE

"This is another broken promise, another lie," snaps one of Ontario's veteran tax crusaders, Paul Pagnuelo, spokesman for the Victoria County Taxpayers Coalition.

He said his group even has an e-mail from McGuinty, promising them a "binding referendum."

John Gerretsen, McGuinty's municipal affairs minister, was also quoted as being opposed to amalgamation, saying: "Putting vast rural areas with urban areas and calling it a new municipality just isn't right?"

McGuinty's excuse for not following through with his promise is if he splits up the City of Kawartha Lakes, the smaller municipalities won't be able to afford mandated improvements in their water systems.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton says that's crap. The truth is, it cost taxpayers $8 million to amalgamate the rural municipalities in a mega city -- which created a new big bureaucracy, with layers of new well-paid middle and senior managers, not just in the City of Kawartha Lakes, but in other amalgamated areas like the mega cities of Toronto, Sudbury, and Peel Region.

In fact, Hampton points to the Queen's Park "Sunshine list" which reveals the salaries of public servants earning over $100,000. In total, 14,926 employees earned over $100,000, up from 2,326 a year ago.

"The greatest increase was at the municipal level," said Hampton, who said the Tories' plan to reduce the size of government backfired. "All it did was get bigger and more costly, while amalgamation was a smoke-screen for all the downloading of costs onto the backs of municipalities."

In retaliation for amalgamation, Pagnuelo's tax crusaders erected billboards warning the fallout would include rural tax grabs, less efficiency in government, less representation, less service, higher costs and new tax levies.

And since amalgamation, the citizens of the new City of Kawartha Lakes have seen their taxes hiked by anywhere from 12% to 78%, depending on where they live.

Armed with a report showing Mississauga can financially do it alone -- McCallion is determined to bust up Peel's new mega region, which includes Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon, declaring she wants a divorce.

And she wants McGuinty to pass de-amalgamation legislation no later than this fall.

"We want to do our own thing and be accountable to our taxpayers," says the GTA's longest-serving mayor.

TORY LEFTOVERS

Bottomline is it's another disaster left over from the Tories -- who gave municipalities the keys to the cookie jar with market value assessment (MVA), then slapped them with massive downloading costs.

And how fair is MVA anyway? "When I earn income, I get taxed on that income, but this property tax system is so unfair," said an angry Sunday Sun reader. "Now I'm paying more because my home value is up.

"But I haven't cashed in. I have enjoyed no increase in income from my home.

"Meanwhile, the services I'm paying more for have gone down."

So, here we go with more fleecing of taxpayers' pockets with higher property taxes, less service, new fees and new bloated bureaucratic salaries -- at the same time we're being crucified by skyrocketing natural gas, hydro and insurance costs.

Want to revolt? Then join McCallion at the Rockton Fairgrounds, on Highway 8 in Flamborough County on May 15.

For details, call Robert Watson at (519) 674-3278.

---

Mississauga Study shows De-amalgamation Savings

Toronto Star

Feb. 25, 2004

Study favours city leaving Peel

MIKE FUNSTON
STAFF REPORTER

An accountants' study has concluded that Mississauga would be the big winner if it breaks away from Peel Region.

Mississauga property taxes would drop by almost 6 per cent if the city is allowed to become a single-tier municipality, according to a report by Day & Day Chartered Accountants that was commissioned by the city.

The report, to be considered today by Mississauga council, concludes the city of 680,000 would save $31.8 million by going it alone, while it would hurt Brampton by $19.2 million and Caledon by $5.7 million.

Mississauga has asked the province to pass legislation to permit the city to separate for the 2006 election.

The report outlined how it would affect taxes on a home assessed at $250,000 in each of the municipalities. In Mississauga, the city tax (not including education levies) would drop from $1,997 to $1,878, in Brampton it would jump by 6.94 per cent from $2,390 to $2,556 and in Caledon it would soar by 13.30 per cent, from $1,877 to $2,127.

These calculations were based on the assumption that current service levels stay the same.

Under the current system, regional government is responsible for policing, ambulance, social housing, waste management, regional planning and roads, transit service for the disabled, public health, Ontario Works, long-term care, children's services and heritage.

Municipalities are responsible for fire protection, local planning and zoning, local and arterial roads, transit, bridges, watercourses and storm sewers, building inspections, tax collection, recreation and parks, libraries and bylaw enforcement.

Mississauga would save money because it would become responsible for the actual cost of delivering services now provided by the region. It would no longer be subsidizing Brampton and Caledon, the report states.

---

Measured by the Spec's own Words

Oct. 28, 12:50 EDT

Measured by his own words

Casey Korstanje
The Hamilton Spectator

We agree with Premier Dalton McGuinty's statement that "Ontario deserves a government that is open, accountable, responsible and works hard for you."

In fact, we will judge the government over the next weeks and months by its own measure. "That's the kind of government we will deliver," the premier promised time and again on his campaign trail.

We'll see.

We must credit McGuinty with acting swiftly to break the cabinet and premier-centric mold that has hardened in Queen's park over the past several governments.

You'll remember that Bob Rae was the master micro-manager who never let anything happen without his personal stamp of approval. Mike Harris and Ernie Eves followed right down that path, largely marginalizing backbenchers and centering power in the hands of the premier and cabinet.

Now McGuinty is trying something new. He has appointed all of his backbenchers to sit on at least one of eight cabinet subcommittees.

That does a couple of things, it effectively strips ministers of the ability to ram through their own ideas untouched -- the sub-committees have to give approval -- and when that happens the sub-committee chair rather than the minister will present it to cabinet.

That's definitely a shift from power politics to politics by consensus, a shift we approve of because it is the essence of democracy. The thing we will watch for closely though, is whether the idea can be managed properly. It has that sort of honest attempt to please everyone feel to it that most new managers skin their knees on while they learn the essentials of leadership. If it isn't managed properly with firm deadlines for decisions, and rules to break deadlocks, politics by consensus can choke a government to death.

We'll see how it works and be sure we will measure the premier by his own words: open, accountable, responsible and working hard for Ontario.

---

Half of Ontario voters favor referendum on amalgamation

By James Wallace
Osprey News Network
June 6, 2003

One out of every two Ontario voters believes local residents should have the right to annul shotgun mergers between municipalities, an SES Research/Osprey News poll has found. Fully 50% of those polled support breaking up amalgamated communities if residents choose to do so in a referendum. Another 33% oppose reversing municipal mergers and 17% were unsure. Nikita Nanos, president of SES Canada Research, said the results suggest the provincial Conservative government continues to bear the scars of its amalgamation push. “Among certain pockets of voters, amalgamation was seen as heavy handed,” Nanos said. While the issue has lost some of the sting it carried when the newly elected PC government began merging communities in 1996, it remains one of several “second tier” issues with the potential to characterize the Conservatives in the upcoming provincial campaign, he said. “At this point, the Ernie Eves government has to be very careful how it manages these issues,” Nanos said. How the government responds to SARS, West Nile, hydro privatization and issues such as amalgamation won’t drive votes but will demonstrate whether it handles problems well and is willing to listen, he said. It’s another thing that colors in the picture of Ernie Eves,” Nanos said. Amalgamation was intended to save communities money, improve services for residents, lower taxes and reduce duplication but continues to be a controversial issue in communities across Ontario. “It’s fraught with a lot of emotion,” said Pat Vanini, executive director of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. “In some places it works, in some it doesn’t.” The “harsh reality” is that in many cases, the promised efficiencies haven’t materialized, Vanini said. “I’ve not seen one case where it doesn’t result in ratcheting up costs,” she said. Between 1995 and 1999, Ontario’s Conservative government restructured and consolidated local councils, reducing the number of municipalities by nearly a third, to 554 from 814. Amalgamations followed in Kingston, Chatham-Kent, Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Sudbury, Lindsay, Haldimand and Norfolk and restructuring in a number of smaller communities further cut the number of municipalities to 448. The province also urged amalgamations in Niagara, Waterloo, the County of Oxford and District Municipality of Muskoka. NDP leader Howard Hampton Hampton said forced amalgamations have been “overwhelmingly more expensive” for taxpayers and that his party would reverse mergers if requested by local councils. “I think it’s clear now this whole thing was a fallacy from the beginning,” Hampton said. “In many municipalities, I think of the Region of Sudbury for example, if you couple the forced amalgamations with the downloading of all kinds of costs and responsibilities, it’s put many of these amalgamated municipalities in the position where they’re closing libraries, they’re closing hockey rinks, they’re closing recreation and community centres and people are rightly very angry,” Hampton said. “They feel they’ve been lied to and they have,” Hampton said. In the new City of Kawartha Lakes, there is vocal opposition to amalgamation and city council has approved a referendum vote during municipal elections this fall. Amalgamation opponents also continue to exist in Hamilton, Ottawa and other Ontario communities. Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty said it may not be possible to break apart municipalities that have been forced together and opposes reversing the merger in his own community, Ottawa. However, McGuinty also said his party will allow local communities decide their own fate on amalgamation or de-amalgamation. “I don’t want to become Premier so I can start tinkering with the shape of municipalities across the province,” McGuinty said. But I think the people who live in those communities should always have the final say in terms of lending shape to themselves in a way they think will better embrace the future,” he said. The poll of 500 Ontario voters was conducted on May 26 and May 27. It is statistically accurate within 4.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20 and was registered with the Canadian Survey Research Council.

---

Supercity discontent not limited to Flamborough: Walker
Flamborough Review, December 12, 2003

Click here for the link to the full article.

McGuinty given 11,000 reasons to set Flamborough free
But government may be reluctant to 'tinker' with structure
Flamborough Review, December 5, 2003

Click here for the link to the full article.

All city services up for review: mayor
Hamilton Spectator, December 5, 2003

Click here for the link to the full article.

Petition's in premier's hands
Hamilton Spectator, December 4, 2003

Click here for the link to the full article.

Will McGuinty deliver to CFF?
Flamorough Review Editorial, November 28, 2003

Click here for the link to the full article.

Suburbs don't want to be united
Hamilton Spectator, September 23, 2003

Click here for the link to the full article.

Flamborough fights on
Brantford Expositor, July 24, 2003

Click here for the link to the full article.

Anti-amalgamation group pinning hopes on election:
Former municipality wants question on municipal ballot
Brantford Expositor, June 27, 2003

Click here for the link to the full article.

Arrival of Tax Bills fanning Separatist Flames
Flamborough Post, June 20, 2003

Click here for the link to the full article.

Tie a Yellow Ribbon Free Flamborough campaign hopes to break out of city ball and chain
Flamborough Post, May 21, 2003

Click here for the link to the full article.

Liberals aim for city-wide referendum But Committee to Free Flamborough wants city voters banned from the ballot box
Flamborough Post, May 21, 2003

Click here for the link to the full article.

---

News Archive

The following link takes you to all previous postings found in the "What's New?" section of this web page.

---

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: If we leave Hamilton where will various parts of Flamborough go to?
A: Flamborough did not need to be amalgamated for any financial reasons, it was imposed on us for political reasons in Queens Park and could return to its previous status.

Q: Wouldn't it be better to help to improve the situation within Hamilton than start a painful re-organizing over again?
A: Our councilors have over the last three years attempted to provide the city council with well researched and common sense proposals which reflect the concerns of Flamborough but have been over-ruled in all instances by the majority of 'old' Hamilton councilors.

Q: Why don't we simply get everyone to sign a petition showing the overwhelming support for de-amalgamation and take it to the government in power?
A: We have been down that road before with a commitment from Tony Skarica that his party would uphold the rule of democracy and the Conservative party refused to listen - the rest is history.

Q: Is the situation really as bad as some people are saying?
A: Hamilton has been poorly managed for years and is in debt $380 million only to get worse in future years with debt rising to approximately $700 million in the next four years.

Q: What can be expected in tax increases for the coming years?
A: Flamborough has been hit with an average 9.8% municipal tax increase this year, compared with 1.7% increase for Hamilton city. Over the next five years we can expect our municipal taxes to increase to at least 65% before the addition of services 'Area Rating" is phased out which will add another 17% or about $500 to your tax bill. We have a Research sub-committee reviewing this topic, their findings will be made available in the upcoming weeks.

Q: Is Flamborough paying its fair share of taxes?
A: The recent tax increases have shown that Flamborough at 7 % of the tax base population is paying for 42% of Hamilton's tax increase budget…this is neither a fair or equitable distribution of taxes.

Q: Why would a petition work now when it failed to achieve de-amalgamation in the previous attempt?
A: A petition is a strong show of support for the committee to use which will indicate the overwhelming desire to leave the City of Hamilton by all recently adjoined areas, however, the committee feels that we need to also be prepared to pursue legal action if necessary.

Q: Will we pay for de-amalgamating and what would the cost be?
A: A figure of $69million has been suggested; however, we believe that as the Province forced us into amalgamation. The Province should pay to get us out. However the $69 million figure divided among the 133,000 residents of Flamborough, Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek and Glanbrook represents about $1000/household which would in most cases be far less that the anticipated tax increases over the next five years.

Q: Are taxes really that much cheaper elsewhere?
A: A comparison of similar properties in Burlington indicates a significantly higher municipal tax for Flamborough residents and Hamilton "has the third highest municipal taxes of 26 cities surveyed across Canada"-Spectator 14/01/03.

Q: Isn't most of the tax increase due to CVA and MPAC?
A: Approximately 53% of the increase is due to increased property assessment; however, as we will always have on average a better property valuation than Hamilton and since there can only be a single mill rate we are saddled with a disproportionately higher municipal tax even in a perfectly run city.

Q: How long would the process take?
A: If the case of de-amalgamation in Montreal is a model then it could take a matter of months if there is the political will to do so.

Q: Who are the committee members? Are they being paid?
A: The committee is made up of concerned citizens who are prepared to lead the way for de-amalgamation. No one is being paid, it is strictly done on a volunteer basis with a commitment to the good of their community.