Council adopts refreshed growth projections for Ottawa

Council today adopted updated population, household and employment projections to 2051. The projections will serve to guide Ottawa’s Growth Management Strategy as part of the ongoing Official Plan update. 

The Province requires municipalities to use population forecasts from the Ministry of Finance as the basis for long-range planning. Because the Ministry does not provide direct housing or employment projections, the City analyzes how the provincial estimates translate into local housing and employment needs.  

The updated projections show that Ottawa is entering a prolonged period of sustained growth. Accommodating this growth will require coordinated planning for housing, infrastructure, transportation, employment lands and community services. The population is projected to increase by about 530,000 residents by 2051, climbing to 1.68 million from 1.15 million in 2024. Average growth of 19,600 people per year is expected, exceeding historical averages. The number of households in Ottawa is expected to increase from just over 400,000 in 2021 to nearly 700,000 by 2051.

Ottawa’s economy is also projected to grow significantly, with approximately 325,000 jobs expected between 2024 and 2051. Total employment would reach 994,600 jobs by 2051. 

An updated Growth Management Strategy for Ottawa will be presented for consideration in April. Once approved, the City will analyze whether there is enough land to house Ottawa’s growing population. If required, the City could then identify and evaluate new areas for future development as part of its Official Plan update.

New funding available for community-led waste reduction

Council approved a new funding stream within the Community Environmental Projects Grant Program (CEPGP) to support community led waste avoidance, reduction and reuse projects. Starting in 2026, the new stream will provide up to $102,000 each year, doubling the total annual funding available to community environmental initiatives across Ottawa. The new funding stream will help more local organizations launch projects that reduce waste at the source and promote repair and reuse.

This funding supports the Solid Waste Master Plan, which calls for financial incentives to help residents and community groups reduce waste at the source. Integrating the new stream into the existing CEPGP framework means community organizations can continue using a familiar process rather than having to navigate a new program. 

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