OFA has provided comments to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing through their consultation process on the Draft Projection Methodology Guideline (PMG) to support the implementation of the Provincial Planning Statement, 2024 (PPS, 2024).

OFA supports intensification and higher-density development within existing settlement areas, as this helps direct growth away from rural lands and protects agricultural resources.

OFA also supports a simplified projection method for small and rural municipalities to ensure planning tools are practical and aligned with local capacity.

However, OFA raises concerns that references to the “availability and viability of surrounding prime agricultural areas” for estimating housing outside built-up areas could be misinterpreted as encouraging development on protected farmland. OFA recommends aligning the guideline more clearly with the PPS, which prioritizes protection of specialty crop areas and prime agricultural lands.

Finally, OFA recommends stronger recognition of agriculture’s economic and climate contributions in municipal growth planning, including its role in food security, economic resilience, and provincial GDP, so that long-term land needs of the agri-food sector are appropriately considered alongside housing and employment forecasts.