Speed cameras coming to the Sault
In an effort to curb speeding on city roads, Sault Ste. Marie is beginning the process of deploying automated speed enforcement cameras.
However, the approval from city council was not unanimous, with some members of council – including the mayor – stating speed limit enforcement is best left to the police.
The use of speed cameras was first recommended by the city’s speed management task force in 2022. This week, council was asked to endorse the use of the cameras at a preliminary cost of around $1 million.
Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said he doesn’t anticipate high returns on that investment.
“Hiring more people to process the tickets and administering the system and making sure there’s public works available when these things are ultimately vandalized, because they’ve been vandalized in every community they’re in,” Shoemaker said.
“I feel that it’s a lot of work for fairly minimal return.”
While Shoemaker said speed enforcement is best handled by the police, Coun. Lisa Vezeau-Allen said officers can’t be everywhere at once.
“It’s not like when you see somebody speeding down Queen Street at 1 in the afternoon going 70 kilometres an hour, you’re not going to call 911 to get a dispatch to give them a ticket and it’s already happened,” Vezeau-Allen said.
Shoemaker contends there are other, longer-term solutions to speeding that should be considered.
“Parking on the sides of the road, which is proven to reduce speed,” he said.
“A straight, flat road is a perfect surface for folks to speed on, so roads with curves in them or that are angled certain ways.”
But Vezeau-Allen said the deployment of speed cameras will mean police resources can be spent elsewhere.
“I think we need to embrace technology that is available, and I think this will create a safer environment in our community,” she said.
Although council ultimately voted in favour of using speed cameras, it could take up to two years before they’re deployed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
'Repetitive partisan conduct': Conservatives to force vote on ousting Speaker Greg Fergus
The federal Conservatives have advanced a motion that will force MPs to vote on whether to oust Greg Fergus as House of Commons Speaker, after MPs' deputy adjudicator ruled Monday that the Liberal member's allegedly errant partisan event invite required urgent attention.
Trial for B.C. man accused of killing, dismembering wife begins
The trial for a Langley man accused of killing his wife began Monday, with the prosecutor laying out a disturbing series of facts agreed upon by both Crown and defence.
Stars roar back to win Game 3 over Oilers
Jason Robertson's hat-trick goal midway through the third period broke a deadlock and proved to be the eventual winner as the Dallas Stars beat the host Edmonton Oilers 5-3 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final to take a 2-1 series lead.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
WATCH Alta. man rescues wild foal trapped on steep cliffside
A man's daring rescue of a newborn wild foal that was trapped after falling down a steep embankment was caught on video over the weekend.
Severe thunderstorms, tornado watch in some areas of Canada. Here's where
Depending on where you live, you can expect to get a mixed bag of weather this week, as local forecasts predict heavy rain, strong wind, severe thunderstorms and even snowfall across some areas of Canada.
B.C. senior prepares to move due to devastating effects of fraud
A Courtenay, B.C., senior is downsizing and packing to move as she comes to accept she can no longer afford to stay in her home, after falling victim to a scam that robbed her of her life savings worth more than $100,000.
Israel close to approving Gaza reunification program before Rafah invasion: Miller
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Israel seemed to be on the verge of approving a program to get Palestinian relatives of Canadians out of the Gaza Strip before the country's invasion of the town of Rafah.