BRAMPTON — City council is once again examining whether school buses in Brampton should be equipped with stop-arm cameras to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped buses — a safety measure previously abandoned by Peel Region despite years of study and planning.
Coun. Michael Palleschi (Wards 2 and 6) brought the idea back to the table during council’s Nov. 26 committee meeting, framing the cameras as a crucial tool to protect students getting on and off school buses. The renewed interest comes after the provincial government banned automated speed enforcement cameras in school zones in mid-November, leaving municipalities searching for alternative safety measures.
“Stop-arm cameras are something I worked on back in 2015,” Palleschi reminded colleagues. “If the Region of Peel didn’t want to do it, there are opportunities for Brampton to ensure the safety of children getting on and off the bus.”
Ontario approved municipal use of stop-arm camera technology in 2017, and Peel Region initially embraced the idea. By 2021, regional council had endorsed a full-scale rollout across Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon. Peel even entered a partnership with Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR) and began negotiations with BusPatrol Inc. to supply the cameras.
But despite strong political momentum, the program collapsed in early 2023. The province informed Peel that BusPatrol’s proposed model did not meet legislative requirements, and after months of unsuccessful negotiations to resolve compliance issues, regional council voted to terminate the plan. No school buses in Peel were ever equipped with the cameras.
Joe Avsec, Peel Region’s acting director of transportation transition, said that around the same time, Transport Canada mandated extended stop-signal arms and backup cameras on all new school buses — changes the region felt would address many of the concerns driving the push for stop-arm cameras. He noted that about 80 per cent of school bus–related safety incidents involve the buses themselves, not passing drivers, and argued there is “little evidence to date” that bus-mounted cameras reduce collisions.
Peel ultimately opted for a strategy focused on community safety zones, public education and traditional police enforcement.
But Brampton council believes the conversation isn’t over. In a statement to the Brampton Guardian, BusPatrol Inc. said it would be happy to work with the city if Brampton revives the initiative. Peel Regional Police also voiced strong support, calling the technology a valuable enforcement tool.
Const. Tyler Bell-Morena explained that passing a stopped school bus with its stop arm deployed is an owner-liable offence under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act — meaning the vehicle’s owner can be charged even if a police officer does not directly witness the incident. “We get numerous reports annually from people with dashcam video,” Bell-Morena said. “When we’re able to verify the details, we can lay a charge.”
City staff will now prepare a detailed feasibility report for council next year. Palleschi acknowledged one looming challenge: money. Outfitting buses with cameras is expensive, and school bus companies may resist absorbing the cost.
“What we’re not going to like is the big dollar amount,” he said. “It’s something the bus companies are definitely not going to want to fund.”
The debate in Brampton is far from settled, but with rising concerns about student safety and fewer automated tools available after recent provincial restrictions, council appears ready to take another hard look at stop-arm cameras — and whether they could finally become a reality on the city’s roads.