Dear Mr. Hardeman:

You may not remember me, but I certainly remember you. Prior to the forced shotgun wedding forced on us by the Tories, you did grant us a face to face meeting prior to amalgamation (a meeting that your counterpart Liberals who were most vocal in opposition to amalgamation, have not yet granted us in spite of repeated requests). I was one of the people attending that meeting, along with members from Flamboro, Stoney Creek, Dundas and Ancaster. After our individual presentations as to why this process would never work, along with facts and figures that we presented, you looked directly at me and promised me that I "wouldn't be disappointed".

At the press conference held at the Sheraton in Hamilton, after the Tories took into consideration the referendum held by Hamilton's outlying communities in which these communities voted overwhelmingly against amalgamation (approx. 95%), our figures showing that one government for all these communities governed on an individual basis would be lower than projected costs for an amalgamated city, you sir, did not disappoint me. You ripped my heart out. During forced amalgamation, our taxes have increased, our services have decreased, "for sale" signs are sprouting like mushrooms, where long time residents can no longer afford to live here. Senior citizens who have lived here for their entire life, are forced into selling their homes and farms due to the increase in taxes and costs for deteriorating services, and don't forget increased utility charges, that only add to the burden. Going down the tubes is our neighbour help neighbour way of life.

Now, you cannot visit the Mayor or Councillor at home, if you have a problem and can't get hold of them at Town Hall, (our nearly new, paid for in full with no increase in taxes is virtually sitting empty). Now we have to drive to Hamilton after we've made an appointment (the new city's mayor appointment list is apparently a 3 month wait, a lot longer than just driving up the driveway and talking to him, no matter what he was doing).

The equipment paid for by the citizens of Glanbrook prior to amalgamation has either been auctioned off or the newer equipment diverted to the needs of the "new city" leaving us with the leftovers. Our reserves of $6 million have been partially spent on "Hamilton" projects instead of staying in our community as earmarked. And, now you, as Oxford MPP and agricultural critic have sympathized with the Lanark Landowners' Association (LLA), noting that you too disagree with how the Ontario government has carried forward with legislation that hurts farmers. "The government is not representing the interests of rural Ontario," Hardeman said.

I understand hindsight is often more reliable than foresight. But during the referendum held by the outlying rural communities, we provided your government with a clear will of the people against this shotgun wedding and we backed it up with proven facts and figures. You chose to ignore the people who elected you, and you chose to ignore the data. Your government paid the price for failing to listen to the electorate. The only consolation may be that the Liberals in this province are now choosing to ignore their pre-election promises in this regard (in direct contrast to their counter-parts in Quebec who did follow through and allowed a binding referendum on the issue) and have to date not given us the courtesy of a face to face meeting to present our cause. I, however, will not forgive or forget, and the realization that you seem to have made, that this was a mistake from the beginning, does nothing to ease the pain and disgust at the so-called democratic process, I felt when I heard at the press conference that we would, in spite of all the facts and figures and the voice of the people, be amalgamated. It might well be advisable for both Liberals and Tories to recognize that only a binding referendum on amalgamation will satisfy the communities that have suffered under this legislation.

Jutta Barlow
Glanbrook Freedom Train