Title: Ontario School Boards Request Premier Ford to Retain Speed Cameras

Ontario school boards are urging Premier Doug Ford to reconsider his plan to eliminate speed cameras across the province. In a statement released Monday, the four publicly funded school board associations emphasized the importance of these cameras in ensuring the safety of students in school zones. They argue that slowing down drivers near schools is crucial to preventing tragedies and protecting families.

"When it comes to protecting children in school safety zones, we must take every possible precaution," the statement read. The associations represent all 72 public, Catholic, French, and French Catholic boards and trustees in Ontario. They highlighted that pediatric specialists have identified speed as a critical factor in determining whether a child survives a collision.

The call to keep speed cameras follows a letter from over 20 mayors, including Burlington’s Marianne Meed Ward and Brampton’s Patrick Brown, who also advocate for the cameras as essential tools for child safety. Last month, reports indicated that the Ford government plans to introduce legislation to ban the use of these automated enforcement tools, which the premier has labeled a "cash grab."

Instead of abolishing the cameras, the school boards are asking the government to improve and refine the existing system. They believe that issues related to fairness and revenue can be addressed through policy changes rather than dismantling a proven safety measure.

"Every parent wants their child to get to and from school safely," said Kathleen Woodcock, president of the public school boards’ association. "Cameras slow drivers down where it matters most." Michael Bellmore, head of the Catholic trustees’ association, echoed this sentiment, stating, "If concerns exist about fairness or revenues, let’s fix them through policy. But let’s not take away one of the most effective tools we have to keep students safe."

The provincial government has proposed establishing a new fund to help municipalities implement alternative safety measures, such as speed bumps and improved signage. However, data from a July study by the Hospital for Sick Children and Toronto Metropolitan University indicated that speed cameras have been effective in reducing speeding by 45 percent in Toronto. Similar findings have emerged from other municipalities that utilize these cameras.

The school boards' letter was sent by the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association, Association des conseils scolaires des écoles publiques de l’Ontario, and Association franco-ontarienne des conseils scolaires catholiques. They are advocating for a collaborative approach with local municipalities, law enforcement, and public health officials to ensure the safety of children in their communities.