BRAMPTON — Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s plan to outlaw speed cameras across the province has left Brampton demanding repayment for millions of dollars the city recently invested in expanding its automated speed enforcement program.
Just weeks ago, Brampton completed the rollout of 135 new cameras, bringing its total to nearly 200 since the program launched in 2020. The city also invested in a dedicated ticket processing facility, which officials projected would generate about $30 million annually against $13 million in operating costs. The last of the new cameras went live on September 1.
Studies commissioned by the city show the cameras were effective in slowing drivers down. Average speeds in monitored zones dropped by more than 9 km/h, with some areas seeing reductions of 20 km/h or more. On North Park Drive near Massy Street, the average drop reached 25 km/h.
Despite the data, Ford dismissed the cameras as a “cash grab” and said the province will legislate their removal. “Enough is enough,” he told reporters Thursday. “Instead of making life more expensive by sending speeding tickets to drivers weeks after the fact, we’re supporting road-safety measures that prevent speeding in the first place, keep costs down and keep our streets safe.”
If passed, the legislation will take effect immediately upon Royal Assent, forcing municipalities to shut down their programs.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown acknowledged the city would have no choice but to comply, but said the province should cover the costs of the investment. “We are working collaboratively with the province on being repaid for expenses invested in this provincial speed enforcement program and what other uses may exist for the cameras,” Brown said in a statement.
Coun. Rowena Santos criticized the ban, arguing the program’s purpose has always been about safety, not revenue. “The solution is to make the program fair, transparent, and clearly focused on safety,” she said. She added municipalities should at least be allowed to keep cameras in school zones.
The program has divided residents. A petition opposing speed cameras has collected more than 8,150 signatures, claiming they disproportionately burden working-class commuters. At the same time, Brampton council tripled the number of cameras in 2024, citing the need to protect children and vulnerable pedestrians in safety zones.
Since 2019, municipalities across Ontario have installed more than 700 speed cameras, with several more planned. Ford’s announcement has now thrown those investments — and the future of automated enforcement — into question.