Since the province announced on September 25 that they would be bringing forward legislation to remove automated speed enforcement (ASE) in the province of Ontario, I felt it was prudent to bring forward a motion at the next council meeting (Oct 1) that could direct staff to take steps that can potentially mitigate any losses or burden on the taxpayer with the province deciding to ban ASE. The town has contractual obligations for leases on the cameras and a ticket processing agreement with the Town of Newmarket that were signed thinking the ASE program was here to stay. Now with the sudden reversal, we need to fully understand our exposure with ending these contracts.
In 2019, the province introduced legislation to allow municipalities to implement ASE. When Stouffville implemented our program in March 2025, we saw a significant and immediate reduction in speeding through our community safety zones. This is not just antidotal but backed by data collected over the past few months. ASE works and the data proves it. Yet, while I do not agree with the province’s decision to remove ASE, we will of course comply with the legislation whenever it comes into effect. I look forward to learning more about provincial funding commitments as noted by the Premier to support municipalities in improving safety on our roads.
