Ontario Premier Doug Ford has rejected a plea from over 20 mayors throughout the province to modify rather than eliminate the speed camera initiative, pledging to combat speeding through alternative strategies. The group of mayors, spearheaded by Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, argues that a complete ban on automated speed cameras would undo years of safety progress in school zones and burden law enforcement further.
Ford dismissed the mayors’ appeal, labeling the speed cameras as mere revenue generators and pointing out that the continual issuance of tickets indicates a failure to deter speeding effectively. According to Ford, the number of fines from speed cameras surged nearly ninefold from 2020 to 2024, totaling over $52 million, which he views as evidence of the program’s ineffectiveness.
In a letter addressed to the mayors, Ford criticized cities and towns 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 reducing speed violations. He emphasized his administration’s proposal to install traffic-calming infrastructure as a superior solution to address speeding concerns.
Data from various municipalities and research from the Hospital for Sick Children and Toronto Metropolitan University indicate that speed cameras have contributed to reducing traffic speeds. Meed Ward expressed disappointment in Ford’s decision to scrap the program, contending that taxpayers would bear the burden of road safety enhancements instead of holding speeders accountable.
The mayors proposed potential modifications to the program, such as restricting cameras to school zones, operating them solely during school hours, and implementing a minimum speed threshold for fines. Meed Ward highlighted the critical impact of speed on accident survivability, stressing the importance of prioritizing child safety over the cost of speeding violations.
While the mayors also sought full reimbursement for lost speed camera revenues utilized for various purposes, Ford assured indemnification for municipalities ending their speed camera contracts. However, he indicated reluctance for the province to cover expenses beyond a dedicated fund for alternative traffic-calming initiatives, suggesting that municipalities utilize funds accrued from speed camera programs or hold operators accountable for related costs.