Chatham-Kent’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) has responded to the de-amalgamation petitions.
CAO Michael Duben was asked by Ward 4 Councillor Rhonda Jubenville in the non-agenda discussion at Monday’s council meeting, about the series of petitions that have been circulating asking the Ontario government to release some of the outlying communities in Chatham-Kent.
“I just want to bring attention to an initiative that I think most of us have seen in our more rural communities outside of Chatham proper,” asked Jubenville.
“Members of outlying communities in Chatham-Kent are petitioning the province to de-amalgamate… Are we making any kind of public comment on this?”
Currently, three petitions asking for de-amalgamation from Chatham-Kent are making the rounds. The first, asking the Ontario government to release Bothwell and Zone Township has been circulating since September 2024. In January, one for Wallaceburg and another for Blenheim started.
Duben explained that he has been directing any inquiries he’s received to the corresponding wards’ councillors.
“Part of the challenge is these are decisions that are not made by council, the petition is not to council. The petition is to the province of Ontario,” said Duben.
“I don’t want to be commenting on what I think the province will or will not do, I think this is very much a political issue. If I can add just a quick editorial, I think some of it stems obviously from the discussion around the budget, but also probably now word is getting out about the discussions on the ward boundary review.”
Duben ultimately suggested to council that if they had a particular position on de-amalgamation, they should present or direct it to the mayor, whereby they could work with corporate communications to put out a statement.
