OFA has provided comments to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing through their consultation process on proposed amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001, and Municipal Elections Act, 1996 to strengthen upper-tier municipal governance. As well as, proposed regulatory amendments to O. Reg. 530/22 to update strong head of council powers, election year rules, and support regional governance changes.

OFA is concerned with proposed provincial changes that would allow the appointment of upper-tier municipal council heads with expanded “strong chair” powers. OFA supports maintaining the current system in which council members elect their own leaders, emphasizing that any enhanced governance powers should apply only to elected officials. OFA believes elected representatives at lower- and upper-tier municipalities are the best means available to ensure the Provincial Planning Statement’s (PPS, 2024) goals of land use compatibility, farm access to agricultural infrastructure, and farmland preservation are accomplished. OFA also supports limits on major decision-making by outgoing councils during election periods and encourages careful consideration of council size thresholds to ensure smaller municipalities are not adversely affected.