This morning, I introduced a motion at Brampton’s Committee of Council in response to Premier Doug Ford’s decision to cancel the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program across Ontario. The Premier’s decision, not shared by many municipalities, will jeopardize public safety, undo years of progress, and waste millions already invested in Brampton. The motion was seconded by all members of Council and passed unanimously.
I am deeply disappointed by the Premier’s decision. Brampton has just completed installing new cameras and invested heavily in a program that has already reduced speeding, prevented collisions, and protected our most vulnerable residents, especially children in school zones. To dismantle it now undermines safety and wastes taxpayer dollars.
Municipalities were caught off guard when the Premier announced a ban on ASE, as it was their legislation in 2019 which enabled and encouraged municipalities to utilize the technology in the first place. Brampton’s ASE program follows best practices endorsed by the Ministry of Transportation and the Ontario Traffic Council. Thresholds for ticketing are based on expert consultation and global benchmarks, signage is posted 90 days in advance, and all camera locations are published online. This program saves lives.
I agree that safe, responsible drivers should not be penalized for going just a few kilometers over the limit. The average recorded speed for a ticket issued in Brampton is 15.7km/h over the posted limit, demonstrating that Brampton’s existing threshold is both reasonable and aligned with best practices. The goal is not to catch more drivers; it is to keep people safe.
It is possible that some municipalities did not implement thresholds or followed best practices. However, that is no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater especially for municipalities who have. As Premier, Doug Ford has the power to fix these concerns through provincial regulation: adjusting speed thresholds, improving transparency, and ensuring revenues are reinvested into road safety. Eliminating the program outright, especially for municipalities who are doing it right, is reckless and unnecessary.
Highlights of my motion include: continuation of ASE with accommodations to address provincial concerns, immediate enhancements to Brampton’s ASE program – including limiting use to school areas, adjusting thresholds for non-peak hours, Provincial legislation requiring consistency across municipalities, increased transparency, reinvestment of ASE revenues into road safety initiatives, and full reimbursement of municipal costs should the Province cancel the program.
Like many other municipalities, Brampton is very close to getting this right based on the intention of the province’s original legislation on ASE in 2019. I urge Premier Ford to meet with Mayor Patrick Brown and other municipal leaders to find a balanced compromise. The challenge now is not to abandon what works, but to preserve safety while addressing concerns.
This motion was seconded by all members of Council and passed unanimously.
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