Ottawa will be forced to turn off 60 photo radar cameras as Ontario moves to ban speed cameras

The city will be forced to shut down 60 speed cameras as Ontario moves to ban photo radar provincewide. CTV’s Tyler Fleming reports.

The City of Ottawa will soon be required to turn off photo radar cameras on all municipal roads, after the speed camera caught more than one million drivers speeding over the past five years.

Premier Doug Ford announced the Progressive Conservative government will introduce legislation next month that will ban the use of municipal automated speed enforcement cameras.

“Over the last few years, we’ve seen municipalities across the province use municipal speed cameras as nothing more than a cash grab,” Ford said while speaking to reporters in Vaughan.

“To protect taxpayers and drivers and stop them from being gouged. Instead of punishing people retroactively with speeding tickets days or weeks after the fact, we’re supporting practical, proactive traffic calming measures that stop people from speeding in the first place.”

Under the legislation, the use of municipal speed cameras will be banned immediately once the bill receives Royal Assent. Ontario will require municipalities with existing speed cameras in school zones to install large new signs to slow down drivers by mid-November 2025, with permanent, large signs with flashing lights to be in place by September 2026.

• ‘Enough is enough’: Doug Ford moves to ban speed cameras in Ontario next month

Ford says Ontario will launch a new fund to help municipalities “make the switch” to install road safety measures. The government will also encourage municipalities to implement alternative traffic-calming measures, including speed bumps, speed cushions, raised crosswalks, curb extensions and roundabouts.

Mayor disappointed

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe told CTV News Ottawa he was disappointed to hear the premier wants to scrap the program all together.

“I thought there was a way forward where we could improve the program rather than scrap the program. I spoke to the premier about it the other day, but I understand that’s not the direction he wants to go in, so, we’ll work with the province and try and find another way,” he said.

“But I think it is a disappointment for many mayors and city councillors across the province who had been focused on using these cameras as a way to get people to slow down in particular neighbourhoods, particularly around schools.”

Sutcliffe said the city needs time to learn more about the legislation before deciding on next steps, and said he’s prepared to work with the province on future road safety plans.

“We’ll use whatever measures are at our disposal, but I think there was evidence that showed the speed cameras were effective at getting people to slow down. If you knew there was a speed camera in that area, you’d slow down. If you got a ticket, the next time you drove through that area, you’d slow down. There’s data that shows that,” he said. “If those options are not available to us anymore, we’ll have to use other measures and we’re prepared to take a look at that and work with the province on whatever solutions we need to consider.”

City says cameras have been effective

Ottawa launched the automated speed enforcement camera program in July 2020, with eight photo radar cameras.

“Since launching the City of Ottawa’s automated speed enforcement pilot in 2020, compliance with speed limits has increased significantly and contributed to safer streets for our communities. Revenues generated through the ASE program cover program costs, with any surplus directed to the Road Safety Reserve Fund to support initiatives outlined in the City’s Road Safety Action Plan and its Implementation Plan,” said the City of Ottawa’s general manager of Public Works Alain Gonthier in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.

Sixty photo radar cameras are currently installed in school zones, community safety zones and high-speed areas across Ottawa. The city is currently spending $1.7 million to install 24 new photo radar cameras this fall.

The Ontario government says it will not give municipalities funding to take down the photo radar cameras.

Gonthier said the city would review details from the provincial government.

“The City of Ottawa is aware of the Ontario government’s intention to introduce legislation that would ban the use of municipal automated speed enforcement cameras. City staff will carefully review any available details from the Government of Ontario and assess the potential impact of this announcement on our road safety initiatives. Following further review, staff will provide an update to Members of Council,” he said.

“The City remains committed to improving road safety in Ottawa and will continue to work with the Province to identify and implement effective tools that protect all road users.”

Statistics available on the City of Ottawa’s website show 1,054,055 speeding tickets have been issued through the automated speed enforcement program since the program was launched in July 2020. A total of 190,439 speeding tickets were issued between January and July 2025.

The photo radar cameras generated $60 million in revenue for the City of Ottawa between 2020 and 2024, with another $20 million in revenue generated between January and August this year.

The Ontario government approved changes to the Highway Traffic Act to allow for the use of automated speed enforcement cameras in community safety zones, where the speed limit is below 80 kilometres an hour.

Ottawa’s police chief said photo radar cameras are one tool in the toolbox to slow down drivers.

“We’ve seen cameras working here now for a number of years. I think we’ve all driven through them. I have as well, too. This is about changing behaviour. I can tell you, when I drive through an area where there’s cameras, everyone’s slowing down around me and that’s a good thing. That means they’re working,” Chief Eric Stubbs told CTV News Ottawa.

Councillors supportive of cameras

Several Ottawa councillors expressed support for the photo radar cameras on Thursday.

“Residents are vocal in demanding speed enforcement cameras in their neighbourhoods because cameras work to reduce speeds, increase safety, and contribute to a sense of security for everyone using roads and sidewalks,” Coun. Jeff Leiper said in a post on Bluesky. “Removing them will make cities more dangerous places.”

Coun. Laine Johnson says all taxpayers will pay for traffic calming measures instead of just drivers that are caught speeding.

“We like this for a policy change? Are we so afraid of going after the actual rule breakers that we would rather put it on the back of everybody?” Johnson said on social media.

“Never mind the administrative and capital costs that municipalities have taken to onboard this provincial program, now we dismantle it and call that good value for taxpayers money as well? It’s not a tax grab. It’s a fine. Now we’re all gonna pay financially and with our neighbourhood security.”

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.

Ottawa’s current photo radar camera locations

Here’s where 60 active photo radar cameras are located:

• Abbey Hill Drive, between Aldburn Place and Sherwood Street
• Abbott Street East, between Moss Hill Trail and Shea Road
• Alta Vista Drive, between Ayers Avenue and Ridgemont Avenue
• Bayshore Drive, between Woodridge Crescent (north) and Woodridge Crescent (south)
• Bearbrook Road, between Centrepark Drive and Innes Road
• Berrigan Drive, between Croxley Way and Claridge Drive
• Bridge Street, between West River Drive to Arthur Crescent
• Bridgestone Drive, between Sunnybrooke Drive and Granite Court
• Bronson Avenue, between University Drive and Brewer Way
• Cambrian Road, between Greenbank Road and Kilbirnie Drive
• Cassidy Road, between Bruin Lane (north) and Bruin Lane (south)/Bruin Road
• Castlefrank Road, from Kakulu Road to Hungerford Gate
• Cedarview Road near Fallowfield Road
• Chapman Mills Drive, between Beatrice Drive and Meadgate Gate
• Colonial Road, between Delson Drive to Frank Kenny Road
• Crestway Drive, between Oldfield Street and Cresthaven Drive
• Crichton Street, between Vaughn Street to St. Patrick Street
• First Avenue, Chrysler Street and Percy Street
• Fisher Avenue, Deer Park Road and Kintyre Private
• Gardenway Drive, between Saturn Crescent/Paradise Crescent to Northlands Drive
• Greenbank Road, between Harrison Street and Banner Road
• Greenbank Road, between Jockvale Road and Half Moon Bay
• Heron Road, between Finn Court to Baycrest Drive
• Hunt Club Road, between Lorry Greenberg Drive and Pike Street
• Innes Road, between Provence Avenue and Trim Road
• Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard North, between Paddler Way/Vorlage Drive to Orleans Boulevard
• Kanata Avenue, between Goulbourn Forced Road and Walden Drive
• Katimavik Road, between McGibbon Drive and Castlefrank Road
• Kelly Farm Drive, between Bradwell Way and Alasken Drive
• King Edward Avenue, between Bolton Street and St. Patrick Street
• Kitchener Avenue, between Cochraine Street and Jasper Avenue
• Knoxdale Road, between Skipton Road to Cremona Crescent
• Longfields Drive, between Strandherd Drive to Marketplace Avenue
• Longfields Drive, between Verona Avenue and Highbury Park Drive
• Main Street, from Evelyn Avenue to Springhurst Avenue
• Meadowlands Drive, between Thatcher Street and Withrow Avenue
• Merivale Road, from MacFarlane Road to Brookdale Avenue
• Montreal Road, from Ogilvie Road to Bethamy Lane
• Ogilvie Road, between Elmlea Gate and Appleford Street
• Ogilvie Road, from Kender Avenue to La Verendrye Drive
• Old Richmond Road, from Kimberly Road to Tanglewood Drive
• Ottawa Street, from McBean Street to Cockburn Street
• Portobello Boulevard, between Capreol Street and Aquaview Drive
• Prince of Wales Drive, from Normandy Crescent/Kochar Drive to Falaise Road/Kochar Drive
• Queen Mary Street, from Edith Avenue to Quill Street
• Riverside Drive, between Mooney’s Bay Place and Ridgewood Avenue
• Smyth Road, between Edgecombe Street and Haig Drive
• Spratt Road, between Canyon Walk Drive/Goldeneye Way and Shoreline Drive
• St. Laurent Boulevard, between Noranda Avenue and Clarke Avenue
• Stittsville Main Street, between Bandelier Way and Hazeldean Road
• Stittsville Main Street, from Hobin Street to Beverly Street
• Stonehaven Drive, between Bridle Park Drive and Tandalee Crescent
• Stoneway Drive, between Forest Gate Way and Mountain Ash Drive
• Tenth Line Road, between Amiens Street and Épinettes Avenue
• Terry Fox Drive, from Richardson Side Road to Old Second Line Road
• Walkley Road, from Harding Road to Halifax Drive
• Walkley Road, from Colliston Crescent (north)/Albion Road to Colliston Crescent (south)
• Watters Road, between Charlemagne Boulevard and Roberval Avenue
• Woodroffe Avenue, between Anthony Avenue and Saville Row
• Woodroffe Avenue, between Georgina Drive and Highway 417

Locations for new automated speed enforcement cameras this fall

• Abbott Street East between Iber Road and Robert Grant Avenue
• Bank Street from Exhibition Way to Wilton Crescent
• Bearbrook Road between the continuation of Bearbrook Road and Westpark Drive North
• Carriere Street from Orleans Boulevard to Michaelsem Street
• Conroy Road from Lorry Greenberg Drive to Hunt Club Road
• Donald Street from Barnaby Private to Telford Avenue
• Dunrobin Road from Porcupine Trail to Thomas A. Dolan Parkway (Village of Dunrobin)
• Fisher Avenue between Trent Street and McCooey Lane
• Fisher Avenue between Meadowlands Drive and Urbisci Private
• Klondike Road between Sandhill Road and Marconi Avenue
• Lanark Avenue from Beechgrove Avenue to Briarway Private
• Longfields Drive from Mountshannon Drive to Silver Sage Avenue
• Manotick Main Street from Bankfield Road to Highcroft Drive (Village of Manotick)
• McArthur Avenue from Irwin Miller Street to Brant Street
• Meadowlands Drive East between Chesterton Drive and Tiverton Drive
• Old Richmond Road from Sanibel Private to Seyton Drive
• Osgoode Main Street from Elizabeth Street to Vance Street
• Perth Street between Cockburn Street and King Street North (Village of Richmond)
• River Run Avenue between Dovetail Heights and Grand Canal Street
• Rockdale Road between Horizon Drive and Buckland Road
• St. Georges Street between Marconi Drive and Galloway Drive
• Stonehaven Drive between Bridlewood Drive and Tamara Way
• Valin Street from Winsome Terrace to Provence Avenue
• Woodridge Crescent at Bayshore Drive near Bayshore Public School