12/20/2025
What’s so funny?
Ford bursts out laughing after Ottawa, Toronto say school-zone signs too big
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he “broke out laughing” when he learned Ottawa and Toronto said the giant school-zone speed signs his government sent were too large for the poles.
The signs arrived almost two weeks after the Ford government banned automated speed cameras in municipalities. Ford has said oversized signs, flashing lights, and speed bumps are more effective at slowing drivers than cameras or fines.
Ottawa and Toronto said the signs required new poles for installation, which the province will cover. Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said cities were briefed on the dimensions and should have flagged the issue sooner.
“When they told me this, I broke out laughing,” Ford said Thursday. “All the other municipalities, it’s no problem, but it’s Toronto and Ottawa — they can’t put up a big sign. Like, do I have to go there and show them how to put up a big sign?”
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow’s office said the matter is resolved with provincial funding. Opposition critics argue the government rushed the speed camera ban without a clear replacement plan.
“The signs that were sent are ridiculously large,” Ontario Liberal MPP John Fraser said. “It’s ridiculous — they’re in a hurry, and that’s really the problem.”
The speed camera ban became law on Nov. 14, just two weeks after being tabled in October.