Preoccupation perhaps?

Back in the spring of 2024, the Ministry of Transportation installed a sign entering Fergus that shook people up.

Overnight, residents found out they lived in the “City of Fergus.” Quickly that was taken down but that didn’t stop tongues wagging. The majority bending our ear were perplexed and not happy about the moniker.

The Township of Centre Wellington is a blend of rural countryside, small hamlets, villages and a town. Since its inception in 1999, development has brought its two significant urban centres closer together.

As a letter writer opposed to the erroneous “city” designation observed at the time, we have a “council seemingly unwilling to halt the rapidity of progress and say ‘no.’”

Confirmation of this attitude became official in December when the township posted on its Facebook page that a municipality can’t “say no” to growth. The post went on to indicate its population should surpass 58,000 people in the next 25 years. That target suggests a practical doubling in size from its current 31,000 residents.

These projections – embraced by the current local administration – are at the direction of the province, which in recent years under Premier Doug Ford, has become quite developer friendly. Fair enough, but is it right, is this to benefit current inhabitants and is it in the best interest of this watershed? We think not.

Chatting with former colleagues we made mention of the plethora of articles published way back when about ensuring water resources and sewage allocations weren’t breached. That was around the time the new township was conceived. Since then, we do not see the same level of clamour about the environment and lasting impacts. 

The ongoing issue in Waterloo Region (downstream from here) is it relied on flawed water data, resulting now in an immediate hold on some development. Coincidence perhaps, but within hours of that breaking news, yet another pro-development post from Centre Wellington popped up talking about being on top of all these items. Have no fear? Is that an adequate assurance?

While Ford may be the lightning rod for the development push, the Planning Act has been cursed for some time without a wholesome approach to ensuring responsible growth. The Greenbelt may have retained its sanctity for now, but it’s not necessarily forever. For communities like Erin or Centre Wellington, the Greenbelt was just a springboard for well-heeled big-city developers to bring their version of community to our county.

Every major party in Ontario has had an opportunity to get growth right or at least improve its aim. The Green Party, whose leader resides in Guelph, has offered up different approaches or at least acknowledged the imbalances that emerge with poor planning. Mike Schreiner’s recent visit to the Habitat for Humanity project in Centre Wellington hit the right notes, but not unlike other leaders who talk a good game with no tangible results, his party has flaws. His communications staff fortified the
“city” fable by referring to councillor Bronwynne Wilton as Centre Wellington city councillor. That significant inaccuracy has yet to be corrected, but confirms even those who should know something, often don’t. 

Hopes for sustainability and responsible development seem all but dashed. Despite election chatter four years ago that talked about saving farmland and growing wisely, this council, the one previous and their associated planners will have sealed the fate of hundreds of acres of farmland – taken from production and paved over.

While we understand the hierarchy of governing bodies and the ability of the province to direct growth, it seems to us that following those directives blindly is folly at best.

Where will newcomers work? Or will they join the hordes of vehicles making the trek back to larger centres, morning and night? Surely there is a better way.

The need to move that traffic requires infrastructure and after “localizing” Highway 6 and creating a bottleneck through town, does anyone actually believe a bypass is on the horizon? These decisions force traffic onto county and township roads, increasing costs to already-weary taxpayers here. 

After developers have left town, these densely built streets will fall on locals to support through their tax dollars. Other communities with similar projects have found the cost to haul snow and clear winter streets prohibitive. Development charges are much like a sugar high, with long-term operating costs relatively unknown if even considered.

The obvious shortfalls in the gambit to grow are clear. It all has a price, whether that be quality of life for current residents, the financial implications short and long term, the increased demands of a “citified” township and the environmental aspects of an overburdened countryside. There is a bigger picture to consider.