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Grey County council wants the Ford government to hit the brakes on a potential move to ban the use of automated speed enforcement cameras.
County council passed a motion during its committee of the whole meeting Thursday to write letters to Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Paul Vickers and Simcoe Grey MPP Brian Saunderson asking them to oppose any provincial legislation to prohibit automated speed enforcement.
Both Vickers and Saunderson are members of the Progressive Conservative government.
Currently, there are no municipalities in Grey County that use automated speed enforcement.
But Owen Sound Deputy Mayor and County Councillor Scott Greig, who brought the motion, says it should be up to municipalities to decide whether to use speed enforcement cameras, not the provincial government.
“What is most important is the municipalities have the opportunity to decide whether or not those traffic cameras, or something that is a benefit in the community, that responds to residents concerns,” Greig explains. “And if you do not feel that way … you can walk that decision municipally.”
“It’s a municipal decision,” Greig adds.
Premier Doug Ford has said his government intends to introduce legislation to ban municipalities from using automated speed enforcement. MPPs are due to return to Queen’s Park Oct. 20 for the fall sitting of the Ontario Legislature. The Premier has repeatedly called speed enforcement cameras a cash grab.
The resolution passed at the Grey County council table will also be circulated to lower-tier municipalities, and sent to the Premier and Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria.