• Taxpayers Federation responds to council's unanimous vote on photo radar contract

WINNIPEG: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is disappointed Winnipeg city council unanimously voted in favour of re-signing a second five-year contract with photo radar operator ACS Public Sector Solutions. Two weeks ago council delayed voting on the contract claiming more due diligence needed to be done, but today, with little debate, the contract gained unanimous consent.

"Council saw nothing but dollar signs when agreeing to sign this contract, where the police service is set to receive $27.7 million, or more, over the next five years," said Manitoba Director Adrienne Batra. "The new, much richer contract is 'due to a more flexible cost structure, with monthly fees and variable payments based on the actual volume of offences,' in other words, it is in the city's best interest to have as many roving vans and cameras around the city as possible to meet revenue targets," Batra added.

The photo radar program is expected to be expanded, even further, in Winnipeg with more cameras, roving vans and speed traps to ensure revenue targets are met. "Since photo radar and red light cameras were imposed by the city of Winnipeg, it was under the guise of public safety, today, council has reaffirmed what the CTF has been saying all along about this program being nothing more than a cash grab."

Photo radar revenues are tied to various crime prevention strategies demonstrating the importance of nabbing as many unsuspecting motorists as possible. "There is a good argument to be made to provide our police service more revenues to fight crime. But for public safety, cops need to patrol the streets to ensure traffic offenders are licensed, insured, competent, and unimpaired," concluded Batra.