Ontario Premier Doug Ford has rejected a proposal from more than 20 mayors in the province to adjust rather than abolish the speed camera initiative, pledging to combat speeding through alternative strategies. The mayors, spearheaded by Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, argue that a complete ban on automated speed cameras would undo advancements in school zone safety and heighten the burden on law enforcement.
Ford contends that the speed cameras are merely a revenue-generating tactic and points out that the ongoing issuance of tickets indicates their ineffectiveness in reducing speeding. In a letter to the mayors, Ford highlighted that fines from speed cameras in Ontario surged nearly ninefold from 2020 to 2024, amounting to over $52 million.
The premier criticized municipalities advocating for the retention of speed cameras as “greedy,” suggesting that implementing physical traffic calming measures like speed bumps and roundabouts would be more effective in deterring speeders. Ford emphasized his proposal to introduce traffic-calming infrastructure as a superior solution to address speeding issues.
Several municipalities’ data analysis and a study conducted by the Hospital for Sick Children and Toronto Metropolitan University have demonstrated a decrease in traffic speeds due to the presence of speed cameras. Meed Ward expressed concerns that scrapping the program would shift the financial burden of road safety enhancements onto taxpayers rather than holding speeders accountable.
The mayors proposed potential modifications to the program, such as restricting cameras to school zones during school hours and establishing a minimum speed threshold for fines. Meed Ward emphasized the critical importance of reducing speeds to enhance pedestrian safety, particularly in school areas.
While the mayors sought full reimbursement from the provincial government for lost speed camera revenues, including expenses for traffic calming initiatives and policing costs, Ford indicated that the province would only cover costs related to terminating speed camera contracts. He suggested that municipalities utilize funds accrued from speed camera programs or seek compensation from the operators to address cancellation expenses.
