BRAMPTON — The City of Brampton says its 185 automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras will remain active — and tickets will continue to be issued — until Premier Doug Ford’s provincial ban officially takes effect later this month.
Following the passage of Bill 56, the “Building a More Competitive Economy Act,” on October 30, Ontario is set to outlaw the use of municipal speed cameras across the province. The bill, which passed third reading by a 69–41 vote, is expected to receive royal assent next week, officially ending photo radar enforcement in communities like Brampton by November 14.
In a statement to the Brampton Guardian, the City confirmed that its speed cameras are still in full operation.
“The city will comply with the legislation once it comes into effect. Until the legislation comes into force, ASE cameras in Brampton remain active. Tickets continue to be issued, and all existing tickets are valid and must be paid or appealed by their due date,” the statement read.
“The city is reviewing operational requirements to ensure a smooth transition, while actively supporting city staff throughout this process.”
Transportation Minister and Brampton South MPP Prabmeet Sarkaria told reporters that municipalities will be required to turn off and remove cameras by November 14, with the province providing temporary signage in affected zones and funding for alternative traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps, roundabouts, and warning signs.
“We’ll have larger signage installed in all zones before the 14th,” Sarkaria said, noting that the government’s goal is to balance public safety with fairness for drivers.
The move marks a sharp reversal from the province’s 2019 decision to allow municipalities to deploy ASE technology, which Brampton embraced on a large scale. The city’s first 50 ground-mounted cameras were rotated among 200 community safety zones in 2020 and 2021. In September 2024, Mayor Patrick Brown announced a major expansion — adding 185 new pole-mounted cameras and opening a ticket processing centre on Sandalwood Parkway.
Brampton invested millions in the program, citing data showing significant reductions in speeding, particularly near schools and community safety zones. City council and several councillors, including Rowena Santos, have been vocal critics of the Ford government’s decision, arguing that the ban jeopardizes years of progress in traffic safety.
“Brampton and other municipalities implemented this public safety tool correctly,” Santos said earlier this month. “Our ASE program was designed with reasonable thresholds and focused on protecting children in school zones.”
Premier Ford, however, has stood firm, calling photo radar “a municipal cash grab” and insisting that traditional traffic calming measures are more effective. Despite lobbying from 20 mayors, including Brown and Burlington’s Marianne Meed Ward, Ford made it clear in an October 7 letter that he would not reconsider.
“The answer is no,” Ford wrote. “Our government is banning this municipal cash grab once and for all.”
For now, Brampton’s speed cameras will continue flashing — at least until Bill 56 becomes law. After that, the city’s state-of-the-art ticket processing centre and its 185 cameras will join the list of casualties in Ontario’s controversial crackdown on automated speed enforcement.