Provincial Changes to Speed Cameras and Local Safety Measures

As of November 14, 2025, the Province has ended the use of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras across Ontario through the “Building a More Competitive Economy Act,” which received Royal Assent on November 3. This legislation requires all municipalities, including Newmarket, to conclude their ASE programs. While this change was not initiated by the Town, we will follow all provincial requirements.

Tickets issued on or before November 13, 2025, remain valid. If you received a ticket dated on or before November 13, you must still pay or appeal it by the deadline printed on the notice. Some tickets may arrive after November 14 due to processing times, but they are still the responsibility of the vehicle owner. More information can be found at newmarket.ca/communitysafetycameras.

At this time, Council has not made a decision about removing the cameras themselves. The technology will remain temporarily in place to collect speed data so we can continue to monitor traffic patterns and work with York Regional Police and our engineering team on future safety measures. Under the new Act, municipalities are prohibited from accessing or using licence plate information in any way.

From my perspective, the cameras at Clearmeadow Public School and Armitage Public School were making a real difference. The number of tickets issued in these areas was dropping quickly, showing that driver behaviour was improving and speeds were decreasing around our schools, which is exactly what we hoped to achieve.

Since Newmarket introduced ASE, we have seen:

• A 73 percent reduction in vehicles travelling above the posted speed limit
• A 23 percent decrease in average speeds in 40 km/h community safety zones

These results show how effective speed mitigation tools can be in protecting children, pedestrians, cyclists, and all road users.

The Province has also announced a new fund to support safety improvements in school zones. As part of this, Newmarket will be upgrading school zone and school zone ahead signs on Clearmeadow and on Savage Road. These new signs will be larger and equipped with flashing lights to improve visibility. The existing poles on Clearmeadow will be used, while two poles on Savage Road will need to be replaced and updated. Residents directly affected by this work will receive notification by mail.

I have also heard informal discussion from some of our first responders that the Province may revisit ASE in the future, but there is no confirmation at this time.

If you have any questions about these changes coming to our school zones or about the removal of the ASE program, you can contact our Member of Provincial Parliament, Dawn Gallagher Murphy:

Email: dawn.gallaghermurphy@pc.ola.org
Phone: 905-853-9889
Mail: Unit 22, 16635 Yonge St., Newmarket, ON L3X 1V6

Thank you for taking the time to stay informed on this important issue. I remain committed to advocating for safer streets, stronger neighbourhoods, and solutions that reflect the needs of our community. If you have concerns or would like to share your thoughts, please reach out. Your input helps guide the work we do every day.

Warm regards,
Kelly Broome
Councillor Ward 6 Newmarket
kellybroome.ca