Ontario Premier Doug Ford praised Vaughan city council’s choice to end its Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program during a vote on Monday night.
“Mayor Steven Del Duca and Vaughan City Council get it,” Ford shared in a social media post. “Municipal speed cameras are nothing but a cash grab. We can keep our streets safe without making life more expensive for hardworking taxpayers.”
Vaughan’s speed camera initiative was paused on June 4 after tens of thousands of tickets were issued in just a few weeks, but Del Duca introduced the motion to permanently eliminate it and concentrate on other traffic-calming strategies.
His motion was approved during Monday night’s special council meeting.
Before the vote, Del Duca posted a social media video outlining his position.
“There are many ways to slow down traffic in school zones that do not require speed cameras,” he argued. “It is time to focus on real solutions, target real criminals, and find fair and creative ways to keep our roads safe.”
The changes approved on Monday take effect immediately, but they don’t affect York Region’s speed cameras, which continue to function on the following roads:
Bathurst Street, north of New Westminster Drive/Atkinson Avenue Islington Avenue, south of Rutherford Road Keele Street, north of Dina Road Major Mackenzie Drive West, west of Lawford Road Rutherford Road, east of Islington Avenue Weston Road, north of Ashberry Boulevard Yonge Street, south of Arnold Avenue
Del Duca’s motion also targets the cameras that remain operational.
“As part of the motion approved today, a request will be made to York Region to suspend its ASE program on Regional roads in Vaughan,” the City stated in a release.
“The Mayor’s motion also requested consideration of additional traffic-calming measures to be addressed through the City’s 2026 budget process.”
While Del Duca and Ford clearly agree on the topic of speed cameras, other municipalities are asking the premier to rethink this decision.
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario sent Ford a letter last week, citing solid evidence that these cameras improve road safety. This data comes from a July study by Sick Kids and Toronto Metropolitan University which found that these cameras reduced speeding by 45 percent in Toronto.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow have also defended the use of these cameras.
In a release, Brown mentioned Brampton’s recent data “clearly shows that Automated Speed Enforcement is helping to slow drivers down and make our streets safer for everyone.”
“Our goal is and has always been to change driver behaviour and prevent collisions, creating safer neighbourhoods across the city.”
Chow similarly pointed out there was “clear evidence” that they work effectively for pedestrian safety.
“Speed kills,” Chow said when reacting to news about 16 cameras being removed in Toronto over one night earlier this month.
“I will let the premier make his own decisions. What I do know is there is clear evidence that speed cameras slow cars down; when cars follow traffic laws, we save lives,” Chow stated.
This year alone, at least 35 cameras have been taken down at various sites across Toronto.
No arrests have been reported.
With files from The Canadian Press
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