Parents Across Ontario Push Back Against Speed Camera Ban

                        A speed enforcement camera is seen on a Toronto street in this undated photo. 

Parent groups across Ontario are mobilizing against Premier Doug Ford’s plan to ban speed cameras, calling the proposal a “horrible piece of legislation” that puts children’s safety at risk.

On Monday, as MPPs return to Queen’s Park for a new legislative session, demonstrations are planned in Toronto, Vaughan, Midland, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Ottawa. Organizers say the rallies are meant to highlight the importance of automated speed enforcement in slowing traffic near schools and residential areas.

Ford has argued that speed cameras are a municipal “cash grab” and that other measures—such as speed bumps, roundabouts, and flashing lights—are sufficient to calm traffic. Parents, however, insist that removing cameras will undo progress in making roads safer for children.

Tom DeVito, a Toronto father helping to organize a rally in the Junction neighbourhood, said he was “outraged” when he learned of the proposed ban. “These cameras save lives. Taking them away makes no sense,” he said.

Municipal leaders and school boards from across the province have also urged the government to reconsider, warning that the ban could increase risks for pedestrians, particularly young students walking to and from school.