Premier Doug Ford’s declaration to outlaw speed cameras across Ontario has ignited conflict between Queen’s Park and municipal leaders who see the devices as vital to public safety.
At a news conference in Vaughan on Thursday, Ford framed automated speed enforcement as little more than a municipal “cash grab.” He rejected the notion that cameras slow vehicles and argued instead for physical traffic-calming measures funded by a new provincial program. His government’s bill, if passed, would eliminate speed cameras provincewide, shifting the focus to infrastructure such as speed bumps and roundabouts.
Ford’s position stands in stark contrast to police and municipal leadership. The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario maintain that speed cameras have a proven track record of reducing speeding and protecting vulnerable road users. Evidence includes a recent SickKids study showing a significant reduction in vehicle speeds near Toronto schools after cameras were installed. According to the police chiefs, “using automated speed enforcement cameras has been proven to reduce speeding, change driver behaviour, and make our roads safer for everyone.”
The debate strikes at the heart of how Ontario enforces traffic laws and who ultimately shapes policy. While Ford’s government enabled municipal camera programs in 2019, it now asserts that such technology is ineffective, despite supporting data to the contrary. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has responded by requesting the province provide its safety rationale and data for the proposed ban, signalling an intensifying public policy battle.
As the legislation heads to Queen’s Park, the question lingers: Will Ontario prioritize local authority and evidence-based enforcement, or embrace Ford’s conviction that speed cameras amount to a tax rather than a safety tool? The outcome will reshape not just municipal budgets, but the very nature of road safety across the province.
References:
Ford government says it will ban speed cameras across Ontario
