Alberta reannounces plans to reduce number of photo radar sites
Alberta reannounced plans to reduce photo radar sites in the province on Monday.
In June, the United Conservative government announced it would reduce the number of photo radar sites in the province by 80-to-90 per cent, a move officials said would bring the province in line with the rest of the country.
Right now, Alberta has 2,400 photo radar locations, while other provinces have between 200 and 400.
"Albertans can be confident that photo radar will only be used to improve traffic and roadside worker safety and not to make money," Devin Dreeshen, minister of transportation, said in a news release on Monday.
Starting April 1, photo radar will be removed on numbered provincial highways and will only be allowed in school, playground and construction zones.
Speed cameras will also be removed from all red-light cameras across the province, although red-light cameras will remain.
Municipalities will also be able to increase the number of red-light cameras if they so choose.
The province says municipalities will be able to request additional photo radar locations on a case-by-case basis for high collision locations where other safety measures can't be implemented.
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi says taking photo radar away means the city will have to spend more on police officers to do traffic enforcement.
"(We would) have to have police officers do that enforcement," Sohi said after the announcement in June. "That means we will have to hire more police officers, which means a tax levy increase."
Police have also decried the changes.
“Doing traffic enforcement through the use of technology and innovation is going to be taken away from us,” Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh with the Lethbridge Police Service said in September.
“(In) the end, we can only see bad drivers continue what they’re doing and if there's no consequence for them, they're going to do more of it.”
"We're very concerned that this decision is going to actually erode traffic safety and our ability to keep Albertans and Calgarians safe on the roads," Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld said in an interview with CTV News Calgary in October.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Much of Canada is under an extreme weather alert this weekend: here's what to know
From snow, to high winds, to extreme cold, much of Canada is under a severe weather alert this weekend. Here's what to expect in your region.
Calgary woman stranded in Mexico after husband's death during diving trip
A Calgary woman is struggling to return home after her husband died while diving in Mexico, leaving her stranded and facing financial hardship.
Fugitive U.S. rioter seeks asylum in Whistler amid warnings of more to come
An American citizen convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill and dodging jail time in Whistler may just be the start of an asylum-seeking rush, according to a prominent legal expert.
'I gave them a call, they didn't pick up': Canadian furniture store appears to have gone out of business
Canadian furniture company Wazo Furniture, which has locations in Toronto and Montreal, appears to have gone out of business. CTV News Toronto has been hearing from customers who were shocked to find out after paying in advance for orders over the past few months.
Soldier who died by suicide in Las Vegas told ex-girlfriend of pain and exhaustion after Afghanistan
The highly decorated Special Forces soldier who died by suicide in a Cybertruck explosion on New Year's Day confided to a former girlfriend who had served as an Army nurse that he faced significant pain and exhaustion that she says were key symptoms of traumatic brain injury.
Man arrested after committing five bank robberies in 10 days: Toronto police
A man accused of robbing five Toronto-area banks in a 10-day period has been arrested by Toronto police.
Jimmy Carter's state funeral starts Saturday. Here is what to know
Six days of funeral observances for former President Jimmy Carter begin Saturday in Georgia, where he died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100.
Special national Liberal caucus meeting called for next week after regional chairs meet: sources
A special meeting of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's national Liberal caucus has been called for next Wednesday, sources say.
'Support better care': Advocates argue need for mental health emergency service
The crisis service sees two mental health clinicians respond to well-being checks without police. Calls are received through 211 or 911, and workers are dispatched if there aren't immediate public safety or medical concerns.