*PETITION * A Petition for Severance of the Former Sydenham Township from Amalgamation with the Municipality of Meaford 1. Whereas in October,1999 under section 25 of the existing Municipal Act, the 150 year old Township of Sydenham, was forced into an unwanted and undemocratic amalgamation with the town of Meaford and the Township of St. Vincent, 2. Whereas, historically, the Township of Sydenham has had no community of interest, and continues to have no community of interest with the former Town of Meaford. And whereas the mainly rural and suburban nature of the former Township of Sydenham and its proximity to the City of Owen Sound make it an unnatural, inequitable, and forced combination with the Town of Meaford. 3. Whereas the increasingly heavy tax burden brings little tangible benefit to the residents of the former Township of Sydenham 4. Whereas the name of the new municipality, approved by the Transition Board was Georgian Highlands, but later, without consultation or referendum, changed to Municipality of Meaford, a name which causes confusion and resentment, and speaks to the supremacy of the Town of Meaford 5. Whereas the former Township of Sydenham came into the amalgamation with a reserve fund of some $530,149.00, understood to be dedicated to the benefit of Sydenham Township residents, and for which there has not been an accounting. Therefore because of the items cited above, and because the present amalgamation was, and continues to be deleterious to the residents of the former Township of Sydenham, we call on the legislature of the Province of Ontario, and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to: enact, under section 172 of the Municipal Act, 2001, the dissolution process which results in the former Sydenham Township being de-amalgamated, and no longer a part of the Municipality of Meaford, and further to reinstate the Township of Sydenham to its former status, with all rights, privileges and duties formerly held therein.