Norwich joins call for province to reconsider speed camera restrictions

Luke Edwards, Post Contributor

Councillors in Norwich have joined the chorus of calls asking for the provincial government to reconsider legislation that will ban automated speed enforcement cameras.

Coun. Shawn Gear put forward a motion requesting the province take another look at things, and received support from his colleagues at the Nov. 11 council meeting. Norwich had previously supported Oxford County’s plan to operate such cameras in an effort to reduce speeding.

“I personally don’t believe the government gave this adequate time,” Gear said.

Queen’s Park has said it will look to other solutions to reduce speeding, though staff said there’s little indication of what that will look like, especially from a funding stand point. Other programs, such as one to help fill potholes, only covered a fraction of the cost, said CAO Matt Smith.

Gear said his motion acts as a reminder to the province that speeding remains an issue in municipalities like Norwich.

“Let the upper government know we still have a speed enforcement problem,” he said.

“We have an ongoing problem and we need a solution.”

Some councillors had issues with the cameras, with Karl Toews calling it a form of government surveillance that makes some uneasy. However, they also acknowledged the success of the program.

“It’s needed, and it was working,” said Coun. Adrian Couwenberg.