SASKATOON – Getting rid of photo radar doesn’t seem to be on the Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe’s radar — at least not yet.
The issue made waves this week with news that Ontario Premier Doug Ford was planning legislation this fall to ban photo radar in municipalities, calling it a cash grab.
Photo radar is used there to automatically catch drivers breaking the speed limit and is also in use in municipalities in Saskatchewan, including Regina and Saskatoon. The photo radar has particularly been in effect on freeways as well as some school zones.
Premier Moe was asked about photo radar while at the grand opening Friday of a new bilingual-Cree school in east Saskatoon. While aware of Ford’s plans, Moe said he hasn’t “had any consideration or discussions with respect to that.”
“I don’t know if we have photo radar outside of this school, but I think it has proved to be effective in keeping speeds at a minimum, in particular in school zones, and that would be the highest priority.”
It was also pointed out that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith had also drastically reduced photo radar in her province. Moe reiterated the issue simply hadn’t been raised with him.
“We just haven’t had a conversation about it to this point,” said Moe, who pointed to more pressing issues that have been in discussion.
“So we have a lot going on right now,” said Moe, pointing to the trade tariffs as well as trying to “rebuild some communities” that were impacted by the wildfires this summer.
Moe said this past week, his government was focused on “reconciliation and using the strength of the Saskatchewan economy to invest in schools, to invest in recognizing and taking responsibility for a path so that we can move forward in a trustworthy way. So photo radar hasn’t made the priority list of conversations yet.”
