Ontario passes legislation to ban speed cameras province-wide in two weeks, sparking safety concerns among municipalities and opposition leaders.
Ford Government Orders Speed Camera Ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government has passed legislation to ban speed cameras across the province, ordering their removal within two weeks. The measure was approved Thursday as part of a fast-tracked red-tape reduction bill that limits public hearings and debate.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria confirmed that cameras will be dismantled by November 14, ending municipal programs that had issued thousands of automated speeding tickets annually.
Rationale Behind the Decision
Premier Ford has long argued that speed cameras fail to slow drivers, calling them a “cash grab” that unfairly targets taxpayers. He says alternative traffic-calming methods — such as speed bumps, roundabouts, and flashing-light signage — will be introduced instead.
However, Sarkaria could not provide a clear timeline for when those measures will be installed, noting only that temporary signage will appear in affected zones before the deadline.
Reaction from Municipal Leaders
Municipal officials have voiced alarm over the rapid removal, warning of an impending “gap in safety.” Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, who joined more than 20 Ontario mayors urging the province to amend rather than abolish the program, said the government has not disclosed funding or plans for replacement measures.
“The province should ensure alternatives are ready before cameras come down,” Meed Ward said. “Otherwise, we risk a dangerous lapse in road safety.”
She added that while speed bumps and roundabouts can help, they are not feasible on busy school routes — and that speed cameras have proven cost-effective, shifting the financial burden “from taxpayers to lawbreakers.”
Opposition Criticism Over Safety Risks
NDP Leader Marit Stiles warned that removing cameras without replacements could endanger pedestrians and children, calling the move “reckless.”
“If one child is hurt during this gap, the responsibility lies squarely with the Premier,” she said.
Liberal parliamentary leader John Fraser accused the Ford government of ignoring safety research by the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto Metropolitan University, and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, all of which found that cameras reduce speeding and collisions.
Implementation and Next Steps
Minister Sarkaria said the government will assist municipalities through a new traffic-calming fund, but the amount and eligibility criteria have not been released. Until new measures are in place, communities that relied on automated enforcement will see no camera-based ticketing after mid-November.
Municipalities are now assessing how to maintain safety in school and residential zones as they await provincial funding and direction.
Broader Policy Implications
The speed camera ban marks a major shift in Ontario’s traffic-safety strategy, trading automated enforcement for physical deterrents. The government’s swift legislative process — embedded in a broader deregulation bill — underscores its priority on reducing perceived bureaucratic burdens but has drawn scrutiny for limiting consultation and data review.
As Ontario removes cameras province-wide, the coming months will test whether Ford’s proposed measures can match the proven deterrent effect of automated enforcement — or whether the province’s roads become less safe in the interim.
