Nova Scotia Blocks Municipal Automated Traffic Radar Cameras Despite New Safety Act
Nova Scotia will not permit municipalities to install automated traffic radar cameras when the new Traffic Safety Act takes effect on Oct. 19, citing privacy and research concerns. The decision has drawn criticism from Halifax officials and cycling advocates who have pushed for electronic enforcement for a decade.
Nova Scotia will not allow municipalities to install automated traffic radar cameras at this time, even as a new framework under the Traffic Safety Act (TSA) comes into effect on Oct. 19. Public Works Minister Fred Tilley stated that issues around privacy, consultation, and further research are preventing the approval of municipal cameras.
The announcement has disappointed officials in the Halifax Regional Municipality, which has been advocating for electronic enforcement for approximately a decade. District 10 Coun. Kathryn Morse expressed disappointment, noting that people do not feel safe on roads due to aggressive driving and speeding.
David Trueman, chair of the Halifax Cycling Coalition, criticized the exclusion of cameras from the TSA as a clear shortcoming and dismissed the need for more research as "political speak."
The province's decision contrasts with recent developments in Ontario, where Premier Doug Ford labeled automated speed enforcement cameras a "cash grab" and removed them. A City of Toronto report showed that speeding increased from two per cent to 8.1 per cent on average in areas where cameras were removed. Police reported a 28 per cent increase in traffic fatalities in Toronto in 2026 compared to the previous year.