Aug. 24, 1999

Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Gilchrist announces an advisor would examine municipal restructuring in Hamilton-Wentworth. The advisor would hold 60 days of public consultations and make a recommendation to cabinet.

Nov. 26, 1999

David O'Brien submits his report and moves to create the Hamilton supercity.

Dec. 6, 1999

Bill 25, Fewer Municipal Politicians Act for the forced amalgamation of Hamilton-Wentworth, Ottawa-Carleton, Sudbury and Haldimand-Norfolk passes.

Jan. 1, 2001

Stoney Creek officially loses city status and charter.

Jan. 3, 2001

Suburban councillors move to have 15 wards renamed with historical designations to reflect heritage.

Feb. 3, 2001

Premier Mike Harris says he has put the brakes on amalgamation, which had forced mergers in Hamilton-Wentworth, Toronto, Ottawa-Carleton, Sudbury and Haldimand-Norfolk. The Premier said the government would only get into amalgamation if there were strong local support.

Feb. 15, 2001

Liberal Municipal Affairs Critic Ted McMeekin asks the provincial government to allow citizens a vote on the question of whether amalgamation has been beneficial.

Feb. 21, 2001

Joe Rinaldo, general manager of finance, City of Hamilton, reveals amalgamation costs jumped from $42 million to $54.2 million.

March 21, 2001

City staff says the cost for amalgamation totals $58.5 million.

March 28, 2001

The C.D. Howe Institute, a conservative Canadian think-tank charges that amalgamation is predicated on flawed, 19th-century ideas. The study finds such mergers bring higher taxes, poorer services and less democratic government.

April 18, 2001

Figures presented to councillors reveal the region and former municipalities had 189 top-level managers and directors receiving $13.12 million in salaries. After amalgamation, the new city has 158 managers, directors and general managers, and they are paid $13.24 million.

June 27, 2001

After 12 budget meetings, councillors approve the city's $478 million budget. Stoney Creek residents have a 0.1 per cent hike, while Hamilton and Dundas residents receive a 0.06 per cent tax decrease. Glanbrook residents get hit with a 5.1 per cent increase, Ancaster residents experience a 6.5 per cent hike and Flamborough homeowners are socked with a 9.4 per cent tax incease.

Aug. 22, 2001

Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty says a Liberal government would hold a binding referendum if residents in the new city want one.

Oct. 23, 2001

Municipal Affairs critic Ted McMeekin helped present a petition in the Legislature from a group called Voices of Central Ontario (VOCO). The group, representing residents of the former municipalities of Victoria County, asked Mr. McMeekin to present the petition signed by 12,000 people. VOCO held 17 referendum votes in which 96.5 per cent voted to de-amalgamate.

Oct. 31, 2001

City staff estimate Hamilton's amalgamation cost to be about $54 million, a cut from $58 million. The city has spent about $44 million on amalgamation-related projects. Most amalgamation bills will be paid out of the provincial government's $31.5 million in transitional funding. To offset the funding deficit, the city defers about $10 million in projects until next year and about $7.5 million is taken out of the city's reserves.

Dec. 10, 2002

Hamilton city council refused to ask Municipal Affairs Minister Chris Hodgson to put a referendum question on the ballot regarding amalgamation.

Jan. 8, 2003

Mr. Hodgson announces a referendum on de-merging the City of Kawartha Lakes would be held along with the municipal election Nov. 10, 2003, asking if voters favoured a return to the previous form of government.

April 14, 2003

Jean Charest elected Premier of Quebec on a platform permitting citizens of forcibly merged supercities to decide on de-merger in a referendum.

Feb. 19, 2004

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing,John Gerretsen announced the Liberal government would not honour the result of the City of Kawartha Lakes vote "at this time."

June 20, 2004

Of 87 former municipalities voting in the Quebec referendum, 31 voted for de-amalgamation. Later, 15 municipalities demerged from the City of Montreal.

Sources: Committee to Free Flamborough, Stoney Creek News