Ontario’s Bill 56 Receives Royal Assent: Major Policy Changes and the End of Municipal Speed Cameras
- Small Town Productions
- 33 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Ontario’s Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025; officially known as Bill 56 has received Royal Assent, making it law.
The wide-ranging legislation introduces reforms to several areas of provincial governance, including business regulation, labour mobility, environmental policy, and transportation enforcement.
One of the most notable changes is the decision to end the use of municipal automated speed-enforcement (ASE) cameras across Ontario.
What Bill 56 Covers
Bill 56 is part of the provincial government’s broader effort to simplify and modernize Ontario’s regulatory landscape.
The legislation’s stated goals include improving efficiency for businesses, strengthening interprovincial labour recognition, and updating environmental and administrative frameworks.
Key areas addressed in the Act include:
Business Permits and Approvals:
The province plans a full review of business-related permits by 2028, aiming to eliminate redundancies and create a streamlined, single-window digital application system.
Labour Mobility and Credential Recognition:
Skilled professionals certified in other provinces will be recognized more quickly under “as-of-right” rules. Certain healthcare professionals will also be able to begin work in Ontario while final registration is pending.
Environmental and Resource Management:
The Clean Water Act and Crown Forest Sustainability Act are amended to shorten approval timelines and coordinate environmental planning. Updates to the Species Conservation Act, 2025 are also included.
Heritage and Technical Changes:
The bill makes procedural updates to the Ontario Heritage Act and Regulated Health Professions Act, improving administrative consistency across ministries.
Changes to Speed Enforcement
A central focus of public discussion has been the section of Bill 56 that amends the Highway Traffic Act, removing the legal authority for municipalities to operate automated speed-enforcement systems.
Once the law takes effect, municipal ASE cameras will need to be deactivated and removed, and any related signage updated. After that point, tickets issued through these systems will no longer be valid.
Municipalities have been given a transition period to comply, with all removals to be completed by November 14th, 2025. Many municipalities have chosen to keep them active until they are removed.
The provincial government has stated that the change is intended to shift enforcement away from automated ticketing and toward infrastructure-based safety measures, such as better signage, raised crosswalks, and road-design improvements.
Traditional police radar, lidar, and patrol enforcement will continue as before.
Provincial and Municipal Response
Reaction to the policy has been mixed across Ontario.
Supporters argue that the change reduces administrative costs and prioritizes proactive safety design over delayed penalties.
Critics, including several municipal leaders and road-safety organizations worry that removing 24-hour monitoring could lead to increased speeding in vulnerable zones such as school areas.
Municipalities like Toronto and Ottawa previously reported lower average vehicle speeds and fewer collisions in ASE zones.
With the new legislation in place, local governments are reviewing how to maintain safety without automated systems, including the use of new physical traffic-calming tools and targeted enforcement.
Implications for Drivers and Communities
For Ontario drivers, the end of ASE means that speeding tickets issued by municipal cameras will cease once the transition is complete. However, speed limits remain fully enforceable, and police will continue regular traffic enforcement using conventional equipment.
Municipalities, including those in Belleville, Quinte West, Northumberland, and Trent Hills will need to finalize their compliance plans over the coming weeks. Many are expected to introduce new safety measures in high-traffic and school zones before the transition period ends.
Beyond Road Safety
Although the speed-camera change has drawn the most attention, Bill 56 encompasses much more than transportation policy.
Business owners could benefit from reduced red tape and faster approvals, skilled workers may find it easier to relocate and work across provinces, and environmental approvals are being modernized to balance conservation with economic development.
Together, these measures form a broad restructuring of how Ontario regulates its economy, infrastructure, and workforce.
The effectiveness of the reforms, both for local communities and for the province’s competitiveness will depend on how efficiently the changes are implemented.
Bill 56 Effects Us All
Bill 56 affects nearly every corner of provincial governance from roads and small businesses to environmental oversight.
The removal of speed cameras has sparked conversation across Ontario about road safety, enforcement fairness, and local accountability.
What do you think?
Will improved infrastructure and police enforcement be enough to maintain safety?
Do you support or oppose the end of municipal speed-camera programs?
How do you feel about the other changes included in Bill 56?
Share your thoughts with us; your perspective helps inform local coverage and encourage community discussion.
To keep updated with our latest news articles by having them sent straight to your email please visit www.smalltownproductions.org/signup or check out our other articles at www.smalltownproductions.org/news
Link for Donations
We’re proudly independent, with no corporate or political ties, just a commitment to truthful, fact-based reporting. Your support not only helps us stay free from outside influence but also allows us to give back to the communities we serve through meaningful coverage, outreach, and support where it matters most. If you value honest local journalism, please consider donating through the link below. Anything helps us keep you informed and make a real difference.
