By Gazette Staff
September 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario government intends to introduce legislation next month that will ban the use of municipal automated speed enforcement cameras across the province, ensuring they are no longer used as a form of revenue. 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.
 This ranks right up there with the tunnel the Premier wants to build underneath the existing 401 highway. “At a time when governments at all levels should be doing everything they can to lower costs and make life more affordable, too many municipalities are using speed cameras as a cash grab,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Enough is enough. Instead of making life more expensive by sending speeding tickets to drivers weeks after the fact, we’re supporting road-safety measures that will prevent speeding in the first place, keep costs down and keep our streets safe.” Since 2019, over 700 municipal speed cameras have been installed in 40 municipalities across Ontario, with more currently planned for installation in the coming months. “Municipal speed cameras have become nothing more than a tool for raising revenue,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Our government is focused on measures that truly protect the safety of all Ontarians and we will continue working with municipalities to ensure Ontario maintains its position as one of the safest jurisdictions in North America.”  The camera will catch you if you are speeding and you will be fined. If you don’t drive over the speed limit – there will be no fine. Where is the cash grab? If passed, this legislation will prevent the use of municipal speed cameras in Ontario immediately upon Royal Assent. The province 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 2025, with permanent, large signs with flashing lights to be in place by September 2026. Municipalities will also 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. “I thank Premier Doug Ford for providing clarity on the speed camera program and for his commitment to provide financial support for municipal traffic-calming measures,” said Steven Del Duca, Mayor of Vaughan. “Road safety will always be a priority and, in Vaughan, we will do everything possible to protect vulnerable road users. But we will also focus our attention on fighting real crime and going after real criminals.” |
Sorry Mr. Ford, but you are mostly off base on this one. Fine tuning yes,elimination,No
I think it is important to recognize how municipalities have abused these speed cameras for the purpose of raising revenue (“safety” is a cover for their true purpose). In Toronto, these cameras were originally intended to be used in school zones (sound familiar?) but then quickly were extended to other streets with greater revenue potential (primarily, where speed limits suddenly changed to lower levels). Not unlike in Burlington, where police radar traps are often found on Guelph Line and Walker’s Line just north of New Street. Why? Because the speed limit of 60 km/hr on New St. suddenly reduces to 50 km/hr on those NS thoroughfares–despite no different in the engineering and social efficiency of those streets.
The Premier has become completely unhinged in his fantasyland of tunnels and elite spas. His rationale for permitting breaking the law makes no sense. Other jurisdictions address speed issues by establishing realistic speed limits and enforcing them. In Ontario, speed limits are just a suggested minimum speed.