Safety must always be the top priority. Automated Speed Enforcement has proven to be a valuable tool in reducing speeding, preventing collisions, and protecting our most vulnerable residents, especially children and seniors in school zones, parks, and community areas.
I do not support eliminating ASE, as Premier Ford has suggested. Instead, I believe the solution is to ensure the program is fair, transparent, and not perceived as a cash grab. In Brampton, we have already taken steps to achieve this balance. Cameras are only placed in clearly marked Community Safety Zones, thresholds are reasonable before a ticket is issued, and locations are posted well in advance so drivers have every opportunity to slow down.
Our residents overwhelmingly support this program because it saves lives. That is why I will continue to advocate for compromise, keeping ASE in place as a trusted safety tool while ensuring it is fair and transparent.
If the Premier moves forward with changes, at the very least municipalities must be allowed to limit ASE to school zones within 200 metres of schools, the same safety standard used to restrict cannabis shops. The Province must also refund municipalities for the investments we have already made in these programs.
As a father of four, I know the Premier shares our commitment to keeping residents safe. The challenge is finding the right solution to get us there. I will have more to say later today after the Premier announces his decision on the future of ASE.
UPDATE: Response from Councillor Rowena Santos on Province-Wide Ban of Speed Cameras
Brampton, ON — I am deeply disappointed by Premier Ford’s decision to ban Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE), particularly as Brampton has just completed installing many new cameras. Our city has made significant investments in this program, which has already reduced speeding, prevented collisions, and protected vulnerable residents in school zones, parks, and community areas. To dismantle this progress not only undermines public safety but also wastes taxpayer dollars.
While the Premier can be stubborn, he has also shown compassion in the past and has reversed course when he recognizes a decision is not in the best interest of Ontarians. This must be one of those times! If the Premier believes there have been issues in how ASE has been implemented in some municipalities, that is no reason to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Instead of eliminating a proven safety tool, the Province should focus on strengthening fairness, transparency, and accountability through regulation, and as the Premier, he has the power to do it.
If he has concerns that enforcement is overly punitive, indiscriminate, or disconnected from actual risk, those can be addressed. Brampton has already demonstrated how: thresholds for ticketing are based on best practices, expert consultation, and global benchmarks; signage is posted at least 90 days before activation; and all camera locations are published here to ensure transparency. Adjusting speed limits where they are artificially low, raising thresholds for enforcement and ensuring data-driven targeting are all ways to restore public trust while keeping streets safe.
Brampton is very close to getting it right, and I urge Premier Ford to meet with Mayor Patrick Brown and other municipal leaders to find a balanced compromise. As a father of four, the Premier knows the importance of keeping families safe on our roads. The challenge now is not to abandon what works, but to find a solution that maintains safety while addressing concerns.
Brampton will continue to fight for our residents, protect the investments we have made, and advocate for a fair, transparent approach that saves lives.
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