United Great Lakes capital referendum

The United Great Lakes capital referendum was a voting process to determine whether United Great Lakes should move the capital city to Toronto. The vote took place on 2nd of December 2017 and it asked "Should Toronto be the capital city of the Federal Republic of Great Lakes?".

The referendum was won by Toronto with 53.24 percent. Immediately after the result, financial markets reacted negatively in Detroit. Toronto's status as a capital city will come into effect on 1 January 2018.

Background
The Toronto Legislature submitted a proposal for the referendum on 24th of July 2017. Senate accepted the proposal and decided to hold the referendum in December 2017. The proposal received negative reactions from Detroiter representatives and from the Nationalist Party of Great Lakes.

On the other hand, the proposal aroused Torontonians and throughout the autumn, the city held pro-capital celebrations and meetings.

Articles
If Toronto becomes the capital city of the Federal Republic of Great Lakes,
 * Federal District of Detroit will be dissolved. The current area of Federal District of Detroit will be merged to the state of Michigan.
 * Detroit will become the capital city of state of Michigan.
 * City of Toronto will no longer be the state capital. The new capital city of the state of Niagara will be Hamilton.
 * The Niagara State Capitol will be the new Congress House. The building will be renovated and expanded. New state capitol of Niagara will be constructed to Hamilton.

Political reactions

 * ConservativePartyUGL.png Conservative Party – The Chairperson Charles Tremblay stated "We are making the biggest mistake if we are going to forsake our current capital city. Detroit has been the most important city since the beginning of United Great Lakes and its momentous history evokes emotions in the hearts of Great Lakers. Detroit is the fountainhead of our democratic country that we must be proud of. Even though Detroit is still in small financial difficulties, the situation does not change if we move the east. As a matter of fact it will just grow. I really hope that Great Lakers will vote with their hearts and vote for Detroit."
 * DemocraticPartyUGL.png Democratic Party – The Chairperson Cathy Bailey said "Toronto has always been a potential capital city for United Great Lakes. Its fast-growing infrastructure has provided a solid financial base for the city and significant status in North America. As a financial center of the Great Lakes, it is also an ideal place for the capital. Many argue that we are abandoning Detroit completely, but those who claim this are wrong. Detroit will always be a memorable city for United Great Lakes, but its position has always just been "a city of politics". On the behalf of the Democratic party, I hope Great Lakers will vote with their solid minds"
 * GreenPartyUGL.png Green Party – The Senator Paul Campbell stated "This referendum has driven United Great Lakes to the brink of civil war, even if we are just choosing the location of the Congress. Both cities are and will be major cities of United Great Lakes and they should not compete. We Greens hope that after this referendum, whatever is the outcome, peace would come between Torontonians and Detroiters."
 * NationalistPartyUGL.png Nationalist Party – The Chairperson Matthew Nelson said "The latest economical crisis has affected in every state of the world, even in United Great Lakes. The members of our society, do you want us to get even worse crisis that we are currently facing? In addition, why would we abandon the city where our entire state was founded? Great Lakers, don't be silly and vote for Detroit!"
 * SocialDemocraticPartyUGL.png Social Democratic Party – The Chairperson Lauren Evans stated "Toronto's rich infrastructure and position in United Great Lakes is important. Detroit has been the cornerstone of our society for over a hundred years. We have given too important decision to people, but because we are a democratic country, I hope that Great Lakers will think what they voting for and use their chance in this major referendum."

Commonwealth of Official Nations states

 * FielgerFlag.png Fielger – Trygve Sumessen stated "Our country knows from practice that having a small capital is a very efficient way to govern a country, and brings great potential and and fast development for the city itself. It would be a bureaucratical challenge for most countries but United Great Lakes is known for it's integrity and stewardship efficiency. We are looking forward to meeting in the new capital to congratulate them for their openness to change."
 * Rumas Flag.png Rumas – The Foreign Minister of Rumas expressed opinions on moving the capital from Detroit to Toronto, saying the following, "As one of the fellow members of the Commonwealth of Official Nations - we support a possible move from Detroit to Toronto but our opinion won't change if the capital of the United Great Lakes was moved or not."
 * Tavakareluu flag.png Tävakareluu – Paavo Katainen stated "As a country which has changed its capital before to a smaller city, we understand the challenges of shifting everything to a different location. However, we also support the idea of shifting the capital city due to the fact that the status of a capital city brings with it many economic and financial opportunities which can thus benefit a city, a country and most importantly, its people."

Other nations

 * Aramea.png Aramea – Monarch Rekyiet Vladimyr II stated "As our kingdom has past time we numerously replaced our capital as of effect of the new land that was built on the holy waters of the Black Sea. We replaced our capital to centralize our country from the city of Norestyapol, Norestyapol is one of the most central cities in our country and that is why we know how much difficulties it can bring. If your country and your people choose for a new capital and so a new life for the republic, changing the capital can bring a lot of difficulties to the country as in a lot of politic needs to travel longer to the destination of Toronto, and a lot of people will relocate to Toronto and so population will be lost in Detroit. Detroit is a great city and is a great place for a capital but we can't say Toronto isn't a great city to. Toronto has a lot of beautiful monuments and great places to explore but we don't think it is the city where the people of the United Great Lakes will be governed. This why the Republic of Aramea can't stand along your decision to make Toronto capital."
 * Danubia4.png Danubian Federation – The Secretary of the state, Mr. Jan Możeteraz, stated during a conference in Lodz "Since we are a democratic nation, we prefer not to intervene into the internal issues of the United Great Lakes, since this referendum is an issue of the United Great Lakes only. Therefore, I won't give an official government statement on this issue. However, I will give my response as an individual person, using the right to tell what I think. Indeed and certainly, Toronto has some better qualifications, like a higher population, increasing the degree of representation of the government into the United Great Lakes people's community, what is one of the reasons why our capital is Danubenburg, and not Lodz, for example. However, we must highly condemn the waste of tax money payed by a tax payer. Millions and millions will the replacement of the capital cost. As a Democratic Party of the Danubian Federation member, I will have to state that the relocation of the United Great Lakes capital is highly disadvantageous for the United Great Lakes citizens. So, I have to agree with the statement of Detroit and the Nationalist Party that the relocation should only occur when highly urgent."
 * Kareyanka Krallığı.png Karianka – Albert Iliich, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Karianka used the following statements in his speech in Danubenburg, Danubian Federation: "The United Great Lakes is an important power in the North America and the Great Lakers have to make an important decision, they will decide the fate of a great power and give directions to the world economy. As a state that changed capital before, Karanese people know that changing the capital can occur big differences so a state should change its capital in only necessary situations. In 1945, Karans' heart was beating in Pietari, Karanese people's heart was beating Pietari and Karianka's heart was beating in Pietari. Also, Kostamus was an insufficient capital for a fast-developing nation so Karanese capital moved to Pietari after they conquered it. As a Russian-origin person, I can easily say that I'm proud of being Pietarian because Karianka gave worth to my homeland and gave welfare to Finns in Pietari. Pietari became a trade centre after thirty years and it became worthy. So this capital change was necessary but if we look at the UGL, their capital change is not necessary, Great Lakes' heart is beating in Detroit and Great Lakers' heart is beating in Detroit. The largest city in a state does not mean that it's the capital of the state. Finally, we explain that choosing Detroit for the capital would be more beneficial, more worthy for the United Great Lakes.
 * Vkyconfd.png Valkyria Confederation – Anna Jakobsen, queen of the Valkyrian Confederation stated "Although our nation was founded on the basis of a rebellion, we have managed to manage our nation efficiently from our capital, which is not large. The move of a state's capital can cause various effects, both good and bad, on the people and the nation itself. We believe this move will benefit the city of Toronto itself greatly, for it being the center of the government, and will help providing economic growth for it. Therefore, we support Toronto as the new capital of the United Great Lakes."
 * Western Flag by CJets.JPG Western Republic – Skyler Falconer, president of the Western Republic said "As a country who changed its capital in our early history, we know the benefits and the challenges of shifting locations. While the people of the former capital will become upset, the people of the new capital will be delighted. We believe that geography is important, and we believe that it is important to have the capital located in an area that is closer to the centre of the nation, as it will represent the nation better than the previous capital did. Shifting capitals will also provide economic benefits to the new capital city. Therefore, we support Toronto to become the new capital of your great nation."