**Mayors Urge Ford to Reconsider Speed Camera Ban** Twenty-two municipal leaders from across Ontario are urging Premier Doug Ford to reconsider his government's plan to ban speed cameras. In a letter addressed to Ford and Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, the mayors, including a deputy mayor and a county warden, advocate for a compromise on automated speed enforcement (ASE) measures, particularly in school zones. The mayors express concern that a total ban would reverse years of progress in enhancing safety for children. They argue that such a move would increase pressure on local police, raise enforcement costs, and ultimately endanger lives. The letter, shared on social media, states, "For most of us, the intention has always been to install cameras in school zones to protect our most vulnerable residents — our children." If the province proceeds with the ban, the municipal leaders request full reimbursement for the costs associated with canceling the ASE program. This includes expenses related to increased local policing, staff severance, and public safety initiatives that are currently funded by speed camera revenues. The mayors propose several compromises to maintain ASE measures in school zones. These include issuing warning tickets for first-time offenses, setting speed thresholds before fines are issued, limiting camera operation to school hours, and implementing a seven-day blackout on additional fines after a driver receives their first ticket. They emphasize that funds collected from speeding fines should be redirected to traffic calming measures, such as speed signs and roundabouts. Premier Ford has labeled speed cameras as an ineffective "tax grab" and plans to introduce legislation to ban their use. He argues that speed cameras do not effectively reduce speeding and intends to establish a new fund to support municipalities in implementing alternative traffic-calming measures, such as speed bumps and raised crosswalks. Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, a prominent signatory of the letter, highlighted that her city has already invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in six speed cameras that have yet to be activated. She noted that without the cameras issuing fines, the city cannot recover its costs or allocate revenue to other safety measures. "I hope that reason and evidence and ultimately public safety prevails," Meed Ward said. "Our letter is really our plea. It’s an SOS to the premier. A 'save our schoolkids.'" Newmarket Mayor John Taylor echoed these sentiments, stating that municipalities have already tried various traffic safety measures suggested by the premier. "Please don’t talk to me about flashing signs and speed humps. We’ve been there and done that for decades. We know what truly works, what truly is effective, and that’s speed cameras," he said. Despite Ford's claims, a study from SickKids Hospital and Toronto Metropolitan University found that ASE cameras led to a 45% reduction in speeding vehicles in 250 school zones. The mayors assert that these statistics translate to fewer injuries and fatalities, providing greater peace of mind for parents and communities. Some municipalities, including Brampton and Toronto, have voted to continue their ASE programs despite Ford's objections. In contrast, Vaughan has opted to remove its cameras, focusing instead on other traffic-calming measures. As the debate continues, the mayors remain hopeful that their concerns will be addressed and that the safety of children in school zones will not be compromised.