Social media screenshot from City of Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie. Mayor Cam Guthrie speaking at Crime Stoppers’ flag-raising ceremony event on September 15th at the City of Guelph.
Social media screenshot from City of Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie. Mayor Cam Guthrie speaking at Crime Stoppers’ flag-raising ceremony event on September 15th at the City of Guelph.
Guelph, ON – Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie is taking a strong stand against the Ontario government’s decision to ban automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras across the province, saying the move not only undermines road safety but also unfairly misrepresents municipalities like Guelph.
In a detailed statement released following Premier Doug Ford’s announcement, Guthrie said the Ford government was contradicting itself by ending a program it had originally initiated and promoted.
“If the Ford government wants to end their own street and pedestrian safety program that is proven to work, so be it. That’s on them,” Guthrie said. “But what I can’t let go of are the totally inaccurate statements made by the provincial government yesterday and today. Guelph residents need the truth.”
The mayor rejected the government’s claims that ASE cameras amounted to a “cash grab,” stressing that the system was never designed to pad city coffers. “Breaking the law and getting a fine isn’t a cash grab,” he said. “The money didn’t go into a slush fund. It went directly into a transportation reserve that funded new crosswalks, road safety measures and improvements.”
Guthrie emphasized that the cameras were installed in school zones to protect children and vulnerable road users, noting parents had expressed feeling safer letting their kids walk or bike to school.
The city also released data showing the program’s effectiveness: when ASE cameras were first introduced, about 40% of drivers were exceeding the speed limit by at least 10 km/h. By July of this year, that figure had dropped to 15%. Even after cameras were removed, drivers were still traveling 15% slower in those same zones.
Addressing another criticism, Guthrie clarified that ticketing was not aimed at minor infractions: “People weren’t getting tickets for going 2 or 4 kms over. The thresholds were set much higher, targeting excessive speeding that poses real risks.”
The mayor also defended the program’s transparency, pointing out that Guelph exceeded provincial signage requirements and published all camera locations on its website.
While expressing disappointment at the cancellation, Guthrie left the door open for collaboration. “Guelph is willing to work with the province and other municipalities on a review of the program and would welcome discussions on changes if necessary,” he said.
He added that since municipalities had invested in the provincially created initiative, it would be fair for Queen’s Park to reimburse costs related to the program’s launch and ensure new funding includes support for ongoing operating expenses.
For Guelph, Guthrie said, the issue remains simple: road safety—especially for children—should come before politics.
Communities Speak: Split Opinions Remain
While Guthrie insists the program was about safety, some community voices remain skeptical. A number of residents have argued the cameras were more about revenue than protection, describing them as a “cash grab” that punished drivers without addressing deeper road safety concerns.
Others maintain that while pedestrian safety is critical, speed cameras alone cannot replace proper traffic planning, enforcement by officers, and infrastructure upgrades.
This divide underscores the ongoing tension between government policy, municipal autonomy, and public perception—a debate unlikely to fade quickly as Ontario drivers adjust to the removal of speed cameras from their streets.
