What does growth actually mean?

We live in a world of finite resources, places and spaces.

It’s for these reasons, which should be obvious in the 21st century, that I’m often puzzled by how cheerleaders of “growth” throw that word around, and other buzzwords like “progress” and “prosperity”, without ever actually explaining what this means for Niagarans beyond simplistic rhetoric.

Sure, they often say things like “growth means jobs,” and then resort to growth champions’ favourite beast, “the economy.” But never, ever, have I seen politicians or growth enthusiasts identify any sort of ultimate goal. Growth, so it seems, is meant to simply go on forever, simply for growth’s sake, and, quietly, the pocketbooks of those financially benefitting from it.

I recently got into an argument on social media with a member of the chamber of commerce over regional growth. This person seemed quite upset that rather than being used for growth, prosperity, etc., lands in Niagara which could be developed for houses and other uses were still “growing fruit.” Apparently it’s just commonsense to some that all lands are being used in a foolish manner if they aren’t paved over for houses and strip malls. The person in question later deleted their entire side of the exchange, for what reason I don’t know.

I have yet to see anyone who is against further development in Niagara argue that any and all change is necessarily a bad thing. But what I’ve heard time and again from Niagarans is that they are bothered by how the region seems to now simply be aping the Greater Toronto Area. They are upset that Niagara’s character and rural charm is being changed to resemble urban areas that, frankly speaking, are not the kind of place they want to live, with constant traffic jams, a rat-race pace, and general feeling of anonymity.

I for one, and many others it seems, would be far more comfortable if it felt like growth and its accompanying changes were more democratic, but they aren’t. Politicians simply impose their own wishes on the region and then tell Niagarans afterward that it’s all in their own best interests. I have a sneaking suspicion that if a poll were taken about how Niagarans feel about growth politicians in most parts of the region would be quite embarrassed by the results.

Again, this isn’t to say that the entire region should be preserved forever in a static state. But why don’t politicians ever make us feel like a part of these big changes? Why don’t they ever seem honest about what the end goal is, if there is one at all beyond profits? And why does it feel like, as in the GTA, growth is meant to go on ad infinitum?

Let’s be honest with ourselves that if it weren’t for the Green Belt and other regulations, Niagara region would already look like one big condominium and giant mass of cookie-cutter houses. Unfortunately, even with these regulations developers, (some) politicians, and growth cheerleaders, are still poking holes, finding spots to develop wherever and whenever they can. It’s become a slow, creeping game of development that ends with Niagara transforming from rural to urban, with all the accompanying sprawl and environmental destruction this entails.

There is a lot of talk lately about the need for accountability and transparency in Niagara. These growth practices are one of the reasons many Niagarans feel cheated and deceived by their politicians. The spotlight now shining on the region in the form of citizens’ protests, national newspaper articles about the Paradise development and the NPCA, and arguments among council members, are a testament to how fed up people are with being treated like dupes and pawns. People have had enough of being told what’s good for them, and being told to ignore all the signs of problems going on right under their noses.

Growth simply cannot and should not go on forever. It may seem obvious to some (not to many politicians and growth champions, it seems), but many of the world’s most pressing issues, like climate change and resource battles, are happening exactly because we have championed growth without any sort of limits or end goal in mind. What’s happening in Niagara is simply a microcosm of a much larger problem that will only end badly if greed is allowed to win the day. It’s nice to see how many Niagarans are standing up and saying enough is enough. Let’s keep it up and ensure that the few don’t end up instituting their will on the many.