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Ford’s Speed Camera Ban Sparks Clash with Cities and Police Chiefs
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced plans to ban the use of municipal speed cameras across the province, calling them an ineffective “cash grab” that burdens drivers without improving road safety. The move, expected to be tabled in legislation next month, has ignited pushback from municipalities and police organizations that argue the devices save lives.
Ford said his government will instead create a provincial fund to support alternative traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps, roundabouts, raised crosswalks, and flashing signs. “Enough is enough,” Ford declared, insisting that cameras don’t slow drivers down and only drain money from taxpayers’ pockets.
But municipal leaders and law enforcement disagree. The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario have both urged the province to maintain automated speed enforcement, citing studies showing cameras reduce speeding by nearly half in school zones. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow warned the ban “signals to people that the provincial government is OK with speeding” and risks making roads less safe.
The controversy highlights a widening rift between Queen’s Park and local governments. While Ford frames the ban as an affordability measure, cities like Toronto, Mississauga, and Brampton point to data showing speed cameras cut average speeds and protect vulnerable road users.
As the legislation heads to Queen’s Park, the debate over whether speed cameras are a deterrent or a tax tool is set to intensify, with road safety and municipal autonomy at the heart of the clash.
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