Speed cameras across Ontario will soon be a thing of the past. The Ford government has passed legislation banning their use, with Transportation Minister Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria confirming that all cameras will be removed within the next two weeks.
The decision comes as part of a broader red tape reduction bill that was pushed through the legislature at record speed — bypassing public hearings and limiting debate. Premier Doug Ford has repeatedly argued that speed cameras are ineffective at curbing dangerous driving, saying tools like speed bumps, roundabouts, and flashing warning signs are better ways to slow down traffic.
While Ford insists the move will make roads safer, studies from municipal governments and researchers at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children have shown that speed cameras significantly reduce speeding in school zones and residential areas.
Minister Sarkaria acknowledged that replacement safety measures are not yet in place but promised “temporary signage” as an interim solution.
Opposition leaders sharply criticized the decision. Liberal parliamentary leader John Fraser said the removal of speed cameras would make Ontario’s communities less safe and undermine years of progress in reducing traffic-related injuries near schools and playgrounds.
With the ban now law, Ontario’s municipalities — many of which rely on speed camera fines to fund local safety initiatives — are bracing for what could be a contentious transition away from automated enforcement.