Toronto Layoffs After Speed Camera Ban: Severance Pay for 1,000 Workers

Toronto is warning that up to 1,000 city workers may be laid off after Ontario’s decision to ban municipal speed cameras. If jobs are cut, many employees could be entitled to significant severance pay under Ontario employment law — often far more than what the city may initially offer.

Below is a clear breakdown of what’s happening, why these layoffs are being discussed, and what non-unionized employees should know about their severance rights if their position is eliminated.

Why Toronto Says Layoffs Are Coming

Mayor Olivia Chow says the revenue from the city’s automated speed-enforcement program paid for a number of essential safety roles. Once the province banned municipal speed cameras, that funding disappeared overnight.

According to the mayor, speed-camera revenue covered:

• 9-1-1 crossing guards — $31.2 million
• 18 traffic-safety police officers — $3.9 million
• Approximately 100 city staff who ran the speed-camera program

The city also collected over $30 million in speeding fines between January and August 2025.

With those funds now gone, Chow says Toronto may have no choice but to eliminate up to 1,000 positions (CBC News).

“We have to lay off — and fire, I guess — the 100 workers that do the work,” Chow said. “Severance pay, for example, it’s a tremendous amount of money” (Global News).

What Jobs Are at Risk?

The city has not provided a detailed list, but roles likely impacted include:

• Staff operating the speed-camera program
• Some traffic-safety personnel
• Crossing-guard supervisors
• Administrative or support staff connected to road-safety programs

If any of these positions are cut, non-unionized employees could be owed substantial severance pay in Ontario — sometimes up to 24 months’ pay, depending on factors like age, years of service, and job type.

Toronto Is Asking the Province for $210 Million

Toronto city council unanimously voted to ask the Ontario government to reimburse the city for the programs previously paid for by camera revenue.

The request includes:

• $95.8 million — local road-safety improvements
• $13.92 million — traffic calming
• $40.6 million — traffic lights and safety measures
• $210 million total

This is meant to prevent cuts to essential safety programs in school and community zones.

The Province’s Response

The Ontario government has created a $210-million Road Safety Initiatives Fund to support safety improvements without speed cameras. Immediate funding includes:

• $42 million available now for municipalities
• Additional amounts accessible through future applications

The province says it does not want speed cameras used as “revenue tools” and is instead encouraging alternatives such as:

• Speed bump
• Raised crosswalk
• Roundabouts
• High-visibility signage
• Increased police enforcement

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria also criticized the city’s budget numbers, suggesting Toronto is engaging in “creative accounting.”

Cameras Will Be Removed Across Toronto

Toronto had 150 speed cameras, including:

• 126 mobile units
• 24 permanent pole-mounted units

All cameras must now be removed to comply with provincial legislation. New school-zone signage will replace permanent camera sites.

Mississauga and Brampton Say Cameras Worked

Mayors in nearby cities also expressed frustration with the ban.

Mississauga

Mayor Carolyn Parrish says the cameras were placed in high-traffic and school zones, where they were effective at slowing drivers. The city will receive $2.2 million from the province for road-safety work but expects it will need more.

Brampton

Mayor Patrick Brown says the cameras reduced speeding by nearly 50% in school zones. Brampton now plans to repurpose them for:

• Red-light enforcement
• Noise-bylaw enforcement using decibel readings
• Police investigations requiring video evidence

What Toronto Employees Should Know About Severance

If layoffs occur, non-unionized workers may be owed:

• Full common-law severance, not just minimum ESA amounts
• Compensation that can reach up to 24 months’ pay
• More pay if their job loss is considered wrongful dismissal in Ontario

Talk to an Employment Lawyer in Toronto

If you work for the City of Toronto and your job may be affected, you could be owed significantly more severance than the city offers.

Our lawyers are the same team you’ve seen on Ask a Lawyer on CP24, where we answer real questions from Ontarians every week.

📞 Call 1-855-821-5900 or use our consultation form today.