Ford says ‘enough is enough’ on speed cameras, forcing municipalities to adapt

For the past week, Premier Doug Ford has insisted that speed enforcement cameras are nothing more than a cash grab, and as of Thursday he is putting his foot down.

Ontario will introduce legislation next month to ban the use of the cameras across the province, despite calls from city leaders, police chiefs and even Sick Kids Hospital that the speed cameras save lives.

Ford’s government is framing the debate as an affordability issue, saying speed camera fines are making life more expensive for Ontarians.

During a morning press conference from Vaughan, Ont. to address speed cameras Ford called them “nothing more than a tax grab,” adding that they “do not slow people down.”

“Enough is enough,” said Ford. “In a few weeks, our government will introduce legislation to ban speed cameras in Ontario, to protect tax payers and drivers, and stop them from being gouged.”

If passed, the legislation will prevent the use of municipal speed cameras in Ontario immediately upon Royal Assent. Under the existing municipal automated speed enforcement camera program, municipalities are permitted to use municipal speed cameras to ticket drivers who exceed the posted speed limit by as little as one kilometre per hour.

“To improve road safety, the province will instead establish a new provincial fund to help affected municipalities implement alternative safety measures, including proactive traffic-calming initiatives like speed bumps, roundabouts, raised crosswalks and curb extensions, as well as public education and improved signage, to slow down drivers,” reads a statement from the Conservative government.

The government will also introduce requirements for municipalities with existing speed cameras in school zones to install large new signs to slow down drivers by mid-November, with permanent, large signs with flashing lights to be in place by September 2026.

Municipalities will be encouraged to implement alternative traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps, speed cushions, raised crosswalks, curb extensions and roundabouts, as well as enhanced signage and education and awareness campaigns.

Mayors respond to Premier Doug Ford’s ban on speed cameras

“I’m going to be clear that I respectfully disagree with the Premier’s take on the situation,” said Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath.

Just last week, Hamilton City Council voted to double their number of automated speed cameras to eight, after seeing success with the initial program.

Councillors also encouraged Horwath to write a formal letter to the premier looking for his support — a letter the mayor says she still plans to send.

“We have our own data here in Hamilton that shows a reduction in speeding, because the number of tickets and the amount that’s coming in is reducing over time,” said Horwath. “So that clearly shows, along with other studies, that this is an effective tool.”

Horwath says between January and August of this year, the cameras gave out $559,000 in tickets. That’s a significant drop from the same time period last year which brought in $1.3 million.

The city says it puts all ticket revenue towards building more traffic calming measures.

“We know our communities best, so let us serve our communities, let us keep our streets safe,” said Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, “and those who don’t want them don’t need to have them, don’t need to install them.”

Ward says the city’s speed camera program is still in its infancy — the first cameras are set to be installed in community safety areas in three months.

Instead of speed cameras, the premier is promising municipalities cash to build more speed bumps, roundabouts, and flashing signs.

He wouldn’t say how much money will be available, or how it will be allocated.

Ward says Burlington is already paying hundreds of thousands of tax dollars on traffic calming measures, but it’s not enough to slow people down.

“We’ve used flashing 40’s, we have those signs at all our school zones already, and yet if there’s no police officer there to stop people, people will blast through those,” said Ward.

Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati welcomes support from the province, saying he’s open to any solution as long as it slows drivers down.

“Our number one priority is safety,” said Diodati. “If this is going to be a way that we’re supported by the province for more traffic calming measures, especially in front of schools and retirement homes, then I’m okay with it.”

“The City of Barrie supports the Province of Ontario, and we are excited to see the new funding opportunities for municipalities… We look forward to continuing to work with the province to create community-safety measures that reduce speeding, improve safety and respect taxpayers,” said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall.

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