Ontario Expanding Support for Road Safety Initiatives

In Provincial

Applications opening for remaining funding to support proven traffic-calming measures that do not raise costs for drivers


As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the government is launching the next round of the Road Safety Initiatives Fund (RSIF). Starting February 19, 2026, eligible municipalities can apply for additional funding through the $210 million program to support increased road safety measures in school zones and community safety zones without using speed cameras that make life more expensive for drivers and taxpayers.

“Our government is protecting Ontario by keeping costs down for drivers while ensuring our roads remain among the safest in North America,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “This additional funding through the Road Safety Initiatives Fund will give municipalities the tools they need to invest in infrastructure that reduces speeding in real time, rather than issuing speeding tickets weeks after violations occur.”

Last fall, the province launched the RSIF to help municipalities transition to proven traffic-calming measures that do not raise costs for drivers, including traffic-calming infrastructure like speed bumps, raised crosswalks and roundabouts, as well as high-visibility signage and increased targeted police enforcement in school zones and community safety zones where municipal speed cameras were previously deployed.

In response to public concerns over the increased use of municipal speed cameras as a revenue-raising tool, the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, which received Royal Assent on November 3, 2025, prohibits the use of municipal speed cameras as of November 14, 2025.


 

Quick Facts

  • Ontario launched the $210-million Road Safety Initiatives Fund in November 2025, providing $42 million in immediate funding to eligible municipalities. All municipalities that previously used municipal speed cameras are eligible to apply for funding.
  • More than 40 municipalities across Ontario had automated speed enforcement camera programs before the provincial ban took effect on November 14, 2025.
  • As a result of the speed camera program, Ontarians were charged millions of dollars in fines, including a single camera in the City of Toronto that issued more than 65,000 tickets and took in nearly $7 million in fines prior to 2025.
  • The City of Vaughan issued 30,000 tickets over a three-week period through its speed camera program. The city scrapped the program in September 2025.
  • The Region of Waterloo issued 55,000 tickets during the first six months of its speed camera program.
  • For 25 years, Ontario’s roads have ranked among the safest in North America, with one of the lowest fatality rates per 10,000 licensed drivers.
Pete Fisher
Author: Pete Fisher

Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love

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