Ontario Premier Doug Ford has rejected a plea from over 20 mayors in the province to adjust rather than abolish the speed camera initiative, affirming his commitment to curbing 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 years of safety advancements in school zones and place additional strain on law enforcement.
Ford dismissed the speed cameras as merely a revenue-generating tactic, pointing out that their continued issuance of fines indicates a failure to effectively reduce speeding. In a letter to the mayors, Ford highlighted that between 2020 and 2024, the number of fines issued by speed cameras in Ontario surged nearly ninefold, totaling over $52 million.
The premier criticized municipalities advocating for the retention of speed cameras as “self-serving,” 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 solution to bring speeding incidents down to zero.
Several municipalities’ data analyses and a study from 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 Ford’s decision to scrap the program would shift the financial burden of road safety upgrades onto taxpayers instead of holding speeders accountable.
The mayors proposed potential modifications to the speed camera program, such as restricting cameras to school zones, operating them only during school hours, and implementing a minimum speed threshold for fines. Meed Ward emphasized the critical importance of road safety, particularly in protecting children, highlighting the impact of speed on the survivability of accidents.
While the mayors sought full reimbursement from the provincial government for lost speed camera revenues that were allocated to traffic calming initiatives and policing costs, Ford indicated that the province would cover costs related to canceling speed camera contracts. However, he suggested that municipalities utilize the revenue generated from speed cameras or tap into existing funds for traffic-calming measures rather than seeking additional financial support from the province.
