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“Banning one of the most effective tools we have to slow drivers down and keep people safe, I think, this is a wrong decision,” Chow said. “It signals to people that the provincial government is OK with speeding.”

When asked why she was proposing changes to a program the premier had just announced he was going to ban, Chow did not answer directly. Her office later confirmed they hope their measures will change Ford’s mind and save the speed cameras.

If the Ford government’s bill becomes law in mid- to late-October, it would take effect immediately.

Part of the premier’s argument why he believes the devices are “cash grabs” is that a driver may be ticketed multiple times by the same camera if they are unaware it exists, he said.

“That has merit,” said Chow’s letter sent to reporters outlining the details of her motion. So Chow is recommending changing the city program so that once a driver is fined for speeding for the first time, they cannot be fined again for seven days, in order to give the driver an opportunity to receive their fine in the mail and become aware of the camera’s location.

In a , however, city staff objected to Chow’s proposed grace period because it presents “considerable risks to the safety of Torontonians” and “compromises the integrity of the program.” A grace period “may be perceived as a loophole that permits repeat offenders to escape consequences of breaking the law,” according to the report.

Chow said she’s spoken with Newmarket Mayor John Taylor about the speed cameras’ software and how a grace period could be implemented to appease Ford.

Taylor confirmed he talked to Chow and other mayors about potential changes to try to address Ford’s concerns and convince him to backtrack.

When the cameras in Newmarket first started operating, the software was set to ensure nobody got two speeding tickets within a week. “That way they have a chance to get the ticket in the mail, learn from the ticket and adjust their behaviour. You can change the blackout period, or you can make the cameras operate only in school hours,” Taylor said.

Coun. Josh Matlow disagreed with Chow’s tactic.

“I don’t want some of the worst offenders believing that they have several days to do whatever they want on our streets,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the city of º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøis dealing with someone who’s not rational: Premier Ford,” said Coun. Gord Perks. ” If there’s a way to save the speed camera, (Chow will) find it.”

Another reason Ford wants to ban the cameras is because he said he has heard that drivers going a only few kilometres an hour over the posted speed limit are getting ticketed.

But Chow disagreed. “There’s no evidence of what (Ford) just said,” Chow said. “Show me the evidence.”

However, she stopped short of answering whether there is a threshold at which tickets are issued to people and whether that number should be made public.

“That’s not the issue in front of us. Don’t speed, you won’t get a ticket. So why does the threshold matter?” Chow said when pressed by reporters.

º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøcity staff won’t reveal that information, even to councillors, saying it would undermine the purpose of automated speed enforcement.

Matlow,Ìýa progressive councillor aligned with Chow on some issues, is expected to move a motion at council on Oct. 9 directing city staff to create a “reasonable threshold” for speeding fines and to make that number public.

News of the province’s move to outlaw the cameras,Ìýas first reported by the Star,Ìýangered º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøcity council members, most of whom cited repeated studies showing that automated speed cameras — authorized by Ford’s government in 2019 — slow vehicles and reduce bad driver behaviour.

With files from David Rider.