Twenty mayors, a deputy mayor, and a county warden representing various municipalities in Ontario have jointly penned a letter to Premier Doug Ford and the transportation minister, advocating for a compromise on automated speed enforcement (ASE) measures within school zones instead of an outright province-wide ban. The coalition of 22 municipal leaders spanning from Brampton to Ajax to Parry Sound emphasized the importance of the province providing full reimbursement to municipalities should the ASE program be terminated.
The mayors highlighted in their social media-shared letter that the reimbursement is crucial to cover expenses related to the cancellation of the ASE program, including the costs of enhancing local policing, staff severance, and public safety initiatives currently supported by speed camera revenues. Their primary goal in advocating for ASE cameras in school zones has always been to safeguard the most vulnerable members of their communities, the children.
Expressing concern over the potential adverse effects of a complete ASE ban, the leaders argued that such a move would undo years of safety progress in school zones, increase pressure on law enforcement agencies, inflate enforcement costs, and most critically, jeopardize lives. To salvage the benefits of ASE measures, the municipalities outlined several compromises they are willing to undertake, such as issuing warning tickets for initial offenses, setting reasonable speed thresholds for ticket issuance, restricting camera operation to school and community use hours, and imposing a blackout period on additional fines post the first ticket issuance to allow drivers a chance to modify their behavior.
Moreover, the municipal leaders proposed that the fines collected from speeding violations be channeled towards traffic calming initiatives like speed signs and roundabouts, a practice already adopted by numerous municipalities. This stance comes in response to Premier Ford’s recent announcement of forthcoming legislation to ban speed cameras, citing them as ineffective revenue-generating tools.
Contrary to the Premier’s assertions, a recent study from SickKids hospital and Toronto Metropolitan University in July 2025 revealed that ASE cameras led to a substantial 45% reduction in speeding vehicles across 250 school zones. The municipal leaders emphasized that these statistics translate to fewer injuries, reduced fatalities, and enhanced peace of mind for families and communities. Notably, the Ontario Traffic Council and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police have expressed support for ASE cameras, further underscoring their efficacy in enhancing road safety.
Additionally, a survey conducted by CAA South Central Ontario indicated that nearly three-quarters of Ontario drivers endorse ASE implementation in targeted areas near schools and community centers. While some municipalities, like Brampton and Toronto, have opted to continue their ASE programs despite the provincial stance, others, such as Vaughan, have chosen to discontinue municipal cameras in favor of prioritizing alternative traffic-calming strategies.
Vaughan, for instance, initiated its ASE program in April 2025 but suspended it in June after a surge in ticket issuances. Conversely, Toronto has faced challenges in maintaining its speed cameras, with a notable 47 instances of vandalism reported within a year. The ongoing debate between municipal leaders and the provincial government underscores the complexities surrounding ASE measures and their impact on community safety.