OttawaThe City of Ottawa’s plan to add two dozen more speed cameras this year is in question after the Ontario government pledged to prohibit the traffic-calming technology across the province.Premier Doug Ford announced plan to axe the traffic-calming technology, calling the cameras a ‘cash grab’CBC News · Posted: Sep 26, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 31 minutes agoOttawa city councillor hopes Ford reconsiders plan to ban speed camerasCity data shows speed cameras in Ottawa increased compliance with posted speed limits and reduced high-end speeding. They raised $29 million in 2024, and the city plans to add 24 more cameras by the end of 2025. The City of Ottawa’s plan to add two dozen more speed cameras this year is in question after the Ontario government pledged to prohibit the traffic-calming technology across the province.On Thursday, Premier Doug Ford called speed cameras a “cash grab” and vowed to get rid of them, six years after the province agreed to allow them. “Enough is enough. In a few weeks, our government will introduce legislation to ban speed cameras in Ontario, to protect taxpayers and drivers and stop them from being gouged,” Ford said. “We’ve seen municipalities across the province use municipal speed cameras as nothing more than a cash grab.”Some city officials say they hope the province will reconsider and reach some kind of compromise with municipalities that have employed the technology, which has been shown to reduce speeding.”Where is the Premier getting his data from?” asked Alta Vista Counc. Marty Carr. “Studies that have been done show that they do reduce speed.”Carr said her biggest concern was that the province offered no alternative plan to enforce community safety zones, particularly in wards like hers where many of the streets don’t have sidewalks. Revenue from speed camera fines also contribute to road safety infrastructure, she said. “How are we going to compensate for that loss of revenue?” she asked. “I don’t think the revenue should be the main driver, but certainly it’s a factor.” Don’t ditch speed cameras, Ontario municipalities association urges Ford Ford’s vow to rid cities of speed cameras ‘100% politics,’ Ottawa councillor says Following Ford’s announcement, Coun. Tim Tierney urged the province to reconsider.”I understand the point that they feel like there’s been too much use of them outside of school zones, fair enough,” he said. “Let’s refine the process. But throwing the baby out with the bath water is probably not the best way to go about this.”If not cameras, then what?Tierney said he hopes to sit down with Ontario’s Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria in the coming weeks to discuss the matter, and also urged the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to get involved.He also asked what kind of traffic-calming technology will replace the cameras.”Are we going to go out and have Hollywood-style billboards, blinking signs at every school … with giant speed humps? That, I don’t think is going to play too well with our residents,” he said.This speed camera across from Cedarview Middle School in Ottawa was responsible for 9,945 tickets during a three-month span in 2023. (Arthur White-Crummey/CBC)There are currently about 60 speed cameras operating in the city, with 24 locations identified for additional cameras this year.Ford said the province plans to support proactive traffic-calming measures such as flashing speed limit signs, speed bumps, roundabouts, raised crosswalks and curb extensions.Earlier this week, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said cameras were an effective tool for slowing down drivers, but acknowledged the ultimate decision rests with Queen’s Park.”They had the authority to put it in place, they had the authority to take it away,” he said. “I don’t think it’s the best way forward, but it’s the provincial government’s decision. If the provincial government does go ahead with this, we’ll take a look at what that means.”Sutcliffe said he’d also like to know what the province is planning to do instead to keep speeding in check, especially in school zones.”I’m all ears. I’m happy to work with the provincial government on that,” he said.Another option being explored is to raise the speed at which drivers who exceed the limit are ticketed. Last year, the city earned nearly $30 million in revenue from fines generated by speed cameras.
Ottawa’s speed camera plan in flux after province vows to prohibit them
