Ontario Premier Doug Ford plans to ban speed cameras, calling them a “cash grab,” leaving Ottawa’s expansion plan and road safety efforts in question.
Ottawa speed camera rollout in doubt after Ford’s ban vow
Provincial decision disrupts city’s expansion plans
The City of Ottawa’s plan to install 24 new automated speed enforcement cameras this year is in jeopardy after Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Thursday that his government will move to prohibit the technology provincewide.
Ford rejects cameras as unfair to drivers
Speaking at Queen’s Park, Ford described speed cameras as “a cash grab” that unfairly penalize drivers. He pledged that legislation would be tabled within weeks to eliminate their use, six years after municipalities were first allowed to adopt the devices.
“Enough is enough,” Ford said. “We’re going to protect taxpayers and stop them from being gouged.”
Ottawa councillors push back
Several Ottawa councillors expressed concern that the province is acting without offering alternatives. Alta Vista Councillor Marty Carr questioned the evidence behind Ford’s decision, pointing to studies showing cameras reduce speeding.
Her concern extends beyond safety. “Revenue from fines helps fund road safety infrastructure,” she said. “How will we replace that?”
Safety versus revenue debate
In 2023, Ottawa collected nearly $30 million from speed camera fines, which city officials say goes back into community safety. Councillor Tim Tierney acknowledged complaints about cameras outside of school zones but urged compromise instead of a total ban.
“Throwing the baby out with the bathwater is not the best way forward,” he said, suggesting refinements rather than elimination.
City leaders seek provincial talks
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said while he views the cameras as an effective safety tool, the city must defer to provincial authority. “They had the authority to put it in place, they have the authority to take it away,” Sutcliffe said. He added he is open to working with the province on alternatives to curb speeding, particularly near schools.
What comes next for traffic safety
Ford indicated the government will support physical traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps, raised crosswalks, curb extensions, and flashing speed signs. Ottawa officials, however, warn these tools may not fully replace automated enforcement in high-risk zones.
Tierney said he plans to meet with Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria in the coming weeks and has urged the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to weigh in.
The fate of Ottawa’s 60 existing speed cameras—and its planned expansion—now rests on whether Ford’s government follows through with its promised legislation this fall.
