Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government is earmarking $210 million for municipalities to implement traffic-calming measures as its ban on speed cameras is set to take effect.
Ford spent weeks railing against speed cameras, calling them a “cash grab” because of the revenue they generate for municipalities, then his government passed last month a ban on their use as of Friday.
The premier has also said speed cameras don’t work to slow drivers down, but evidence collected by municipalities and Hospital for Sick Children researchers found they do.
More than 20 mayors had urged Ford to tweak the program instead of scrapping it entirely, noting that the move means road safety measures in their communities will now be funded by all taxpayers instead of by drivers breaking the law by speeding.
Toronto pushes back on Ford’s proposed speed camera ban, citing school zone safety
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said in a statement Thursday that a new Road Safety Initiatives Fund will provide an immediate $42 million for measures such as speed bumps, raised crosswalks, roundabouts, new signage and increased police enforcement in school and community zones that had speed cameras.
“Ontario has some of the safest roads in North America and our new Road Safety Initiatives Fund will build on this record by ensuring municipalities have the resources they need to implement proven traffic-calming measures without making life more expensive for drivers,” Sarkaria wrote.
Eligible municipalities will be able to apply for the remaining $168 million early next year.
Ford’s public push against speed cameras began in earnest after 17 automated speed cameras were cut down in Toronto over two days.
The measures to ban speed cameras were contained in a red tape reduction bill, which the government fast-tracked, limiting debate and skipping public hearings.
