Mississauga city council is asking the federal government to tighten the rules on uncertified lithium-ion batteries, saying fires linked to them more than doubled in the city in a single year.
At its Jan. 14 meeting, council endorsed two letters from Mayor Carolyn Parrish, one to Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon and one to Health Minister Marjorie Michel. The city released a summary of the meeting on Friday, Jan. 16. The letters were first presented at the Jan. 7 General Committee meeting.
What the numbers show
According to the city, Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services recorded a 122 per cent increase in fires related to lithium-ion batteries from 2024 to 2025. These rechargeable batteries power everything from phones and laptops to e-bikes, e-scooters and power tools.
The city said the letters address the growing public safety risks posed by uncertified batteries and call for national action to improve safety standards and consumer protections.
What Mississauga wants Ottawa to do
Both letters urge the federal government to strengthen regulations under four federal laws:
the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act
the Canada Transportation Act
the Motor Vehicle Safety Act
the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act
The proposed measures cover certification standards, protocols for transporting batteries and consumer protections.
The city said it is committed to working with all levels of government to share data, best practices and policy insights to improve battery safety across the country.
Why two ministers
The issue crosses federal departments. Transport Canada oversees the shipping of dangerous goods and motor vehicle safety rules, while Health Canada administers the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.
Also on the city's radar
Battery safety also came up during the city's budget review. At the Jan. 13 Budget Committee meeting, Fire and Emergency Services staff were asked about the safe disposal of lithium-ion batteries, along with plans to refresh older fire stations and build new ones.
