Toronto — Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government is moving to fast-track legislation that would eliminate the province’s automated speed enforcement (ASE) camera program, drawing criticism from opposition parties and municipal leaders who say the devices save lives.
Government House Leader Steve Clark confirmed on Tuesday that the Progressive Conservative government will limit debate and bypass public hearings on three pieces of legislation:
- A red tape reduction bill that includes the speed camera ban,
- A labour bill, and
- An emergency management bill.
The government’s move means no public committee hearings will take place — a stage typically used to hear feedback and propose amendments. Debate will also be capped at both the second and third readings before final approval.
Clark defended the decision, noting that the topic had already been widely discussed over the summer. “No one should be surprised that the government wants to move this bill forward after we’ve been talking about it all summer into the fall,” he said in the legislature.
Premier Ford has repeatedly called speed cameras a “cash grab” that unfairly penalizes drivers while generating municipal revenue. However, mayors from more than 20 municipalities, including Mississauga’s Carolyn Parrish, as well as police chiefs and researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children, have argued that speed cameras reduce vehicle speeds and prevent injuries—especially in school zones.
Ford has instead promoted alternatives such as speed bumps, roundabouts, flashing-light signage, and curb extensions as more effective traffic-calming measures.
Opposition leaders blasted the government for rushing key legislation. NDP House Leader John Vanthof accused the PCs of poor scheduling, saying the legislature’s delayed fall return left little room for debate. “You showed up a month and a half late — you slept in and now you’re rushing stuff through,” Vanthof said.
Liberal parliamentary leader John Fraser echoed those concerns, calling the government’s move a repeated pattern of limiting scrutiny. “You’ve got to take time. You’ve got to listen to the other side,” he said. “When you fast-track things this way, it doesn’t serve anyone and leads to bad legislation.”
The red tape reduction bill also includes provisions to:
- Allow greater mobility for health care workers across provinces,
- “Streamline” Ontario’s Clean Water Act, and
- Simplify certain regulatory and permitting processes.
The labour bill would require defibrillators on construction sites and compel job-posting platforms to report fraudulent ads, while the emergency management bill outlines clearer government responsibilities to improve coordination during crises.
Despite the Ford government’s insistence that the speed camera ban will proceed, municipal and safety advocates continue to push back, citing multiple studies — including research by SickKids and Toronto Metropolitan University — showing that ASE cameras have successfully reduced average driving speeds and improved road safety across Ontario.