{"id":254177,"date":"2025-09-25T18:07:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T18:07:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/254177\/"},"modified":"2025-09-25T18:07:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T18:07:20","slug":"doug-ford-plans-to-ban-ontario-speed-cameras-after-tax-grab-gripe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/254177\/","title":{"rendered":"Doug Ford plans to ban Ontario speed cameras after \u2018tax grab\u2019 gripe"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ford government<\/a> will table legislation to abolish Ontario\u2019s speed cameras, the premier announced, as he continues his push to get rid of a system he has repeatedly called a \u201ctax grab.\u201d<\/p>\n

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On Thursday morning, Premier Doug Ford finally unveiled a policy he has been telegraphing for weeks, announcing he will force cities to remove their speed cameras and give them an unspecified amount of money to add speed bumps and signs instead.<\/p>\n

The premier lamented examples of automated speed enforcement cameras being poorly signposted or issuing tickets for people going a few kilometres over the limit. He said those examples showed they were about making money, not slowing people down.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re coming off the QEW and 427, at Martingrove and Eglinton, that one\u2019s been taken down three or four times,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re going a fair click if you hit the green light. And all of a sudden \u2014 bang. There\u2019s no warnings, there\u2019s no nothing. It\u2019s not even close to a school.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ford\u2019s claim the cameras do nothing to stop speeding stands in contrast to a recent academic study, along with the positions of municipal and police leaders.<\/p>\n

A study from SickKids and Toronto Metropolitan University<\/a> over the summer found speed cameras reduced speeding by 45 per cent in Toronto.<\/p>\n

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police<\/a> both released statements in which they argued that the cameras are an effective tool to slow down drivers, freeing up police officers to concentrate on serious crime.<\/p>\n

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The premier\u2019s office, however, highlighted the money raised by some cities to show that the cameras make more money than they slow down.<\/p>\n

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The government said 40 municipalities in Ontario had signed up for automated speed enforcement, installing more than 700 cameras between them. The cities on that list include some of Ontario\u2019s most populous, like Toronto, Ottawa, Brampton and Mississauga.<\/p>\n

\u201cMunicipal speed cameras have become nothing more than a tool for raising revenue,\u201d Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said in a statement.<\/p>\n

The government said its speed camera legislation will prevent cities from using their speed cameras as soon as it receives Royal Assent. It will include requirements for cities to add \u201cslow down\u201d signs near schools by mid-November and large permanent signs with flashing lights by this time next year.<\/p>\n

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Ford said he wouldn\u2019t help cities with the cost of removing the cameras, breaking contracts or potentially offering drivers refunds for tickets they received.<\/p>\n

Instead, he said, the government will set up a fund for cities to install other traffic calming measures.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt also includes speed bumps, roundabouts, raised crosswalks, curb extensions and other types of enforcement that will keep communities safe without squeezing more money out of the taxpayers,\u201d Ford said.<\/p>\n

The government has not decided how much money will go into the fund. Ford said he would \u201cevaluate\u201d the need before deciding.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the premier\u2019s office did say the government was looking at indemnifying cities for breaking existing speed camera contracts.<\/p>\n

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