Ottawa council expresses support for photo radar cameras remaining in school zones

City council was unanimous in its agreement that Premier Doug Ford should keep photo radar cameras working near schools. CTV’s Tyler Fleming reports.

Ottawa city council is calling on the Ontario government to allow photo radar cameras to remain in school zones, as the province moves to ban automated speed enforcement cameras.

Council unanimously approved a motion from Coun. Tim Tierney to request municipalities be allowed to keep photo radar cameras in school zones.

“To the province, we’re still here, we’re still listening. We need to keep the school zones – that’s the critical piece to the puzzle,” Tierney said during the council debate.

“We will turn off the ones that are not there. We’ll sit at the table and continue to negotiate, but please protect the students, keep the school zones and let’s keep the conversation going.”

On Monday, the Ontario government introduced the “Building a More Competitive Economy Act,” which includes ending the use of speed cameras. Premier Doug Ford has called photo radar cameras a “cash grab.”

The bill says Ontario will focus on alternative traffic-calming measures, such as speed bumps, speed cushions and roundabouts, as well as enhanced signage and education campaigns to keep Ontario among the safest jurisdictions in North America.”

Coun. Riley Brockington told council that when he first campaigned in 2014, “road safety was the number one issue.”

Coun. Laine Johnson noted funding from automated speed enforcement cameras support several road safety programs across Ottawa.

“Right now, all these programs are paid for by people who break the law, who choose to speed near schools,” Johnson said.

“If we decide to keep those programs, they’ll have to be paid for by law abiding homeowners. That’s the decision that the province is asking us to make; make the honest drivers pay and don’t charge those that are speeding. That is being argued as fair? I disagree. I think that driving is a privilege, it’s not a right and to paraphrase – if you can’t pay the fine, don’t do the crime.”

The motion recommends Council “affirm the proven safety benefits” of the photo radar program and “urge the Province of Ontario to permit the retention” of photo radar cameras in school zones. Tierney recommends that if the Ontario government proceeds with removing photo radar cameras, Council requests municipalities be granted the opportunity to phase out the cameras over a 12-month period.

There are currently 60 photo radar cameras installed across Ottawa, with plans to install 24 new cameras this fall. Of the 60 photo radar cameras currently in operation, 50 cameras are adjacent to schools.

Tierney’s motion notes data from the automated speed enforcement camera program shows driver compliance with posted speed limits at photo radar cameras increased from 16 per cent before the camera was activated to 87 per cent four years later.

“A complete provincial ban would deactivate all the ASE cameras, including in school zones, creating the risk that speeds in these areas would increase,” Tierney said in his motion.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he hopes Ottawa residents will contact the Premier’s Office and the minister of transportation to express support for photo radar cameras in school zones.

“I really hope it does persuade the province to change its mind on speed cameras in school zones. I fundamentally disagree with the provincial government’s position on this and with the new legislation they’ve introduced,” Sutcliffe told reporters after Wednesday’s council meeting.

“I do not think that will make roads safer for our children and members of the public. I think it will make them more dangerous. I’ve said all along, I think speed cameras work.”

Statistics available on the City of Ottawa’s website show 1,081,836 speeding tickets have been issued through the automated speed enforcement program since the program was launched in July 2020. A total of 218,220 speeding tickets were issued between January and August 2025.

The city says revenues generated from the automated speed enforcement program cover the cost of photo radar cameras and support initiatives in the Road Safety Action Plan, including engineering and enforcement to promote road safety for all road users.