A push for Mississauga to ask the province to license and register e-bikes and e-scooters was voted down at city council on Wednesday.
Ward 7 Councillor Dipika Damerla brought the notice of motion, which called on the Province of Ontario to set up licensing and registration for the two types of vehicles. According to the meeting record, she pointed to other jurisdictions that already license and register them and argued Ontario should follow suit.
A debate over safety and jurisdiction
Deputy Mayor Matt Mahoney, the Ward 8 councillor, raised concerns about e-bikes and e-scooters, including the number of emergency visits linked to e-scooters. He asked about the pilot programs in place in Mississauga and across Ontario, and spoke about putting a full pause on the city's e-scooter program.
Sam Rogers, the city's commissioner of transportation and works, explained the legal and regulatory framework of the provincial pilot and commented on the wording of the motion.
Ward 2 Councillor Alvin Tedjo and Ward 1 Councillor Stephen Dasko spoke about the practical challenges of registering e-bikes and e-scooters, the separate roles of the federal and provincial governments, and the work of the city's road safety committee.
When council voted, the motion failed. The meeting record does not list a tally for that vote.
What comes next
Mahoney said during the debate that he will bring a motion in the coming weeks to temporarily pause the city's e-scooter rental program until proper safety measures are in place, insauga.com reported.
E-scooters are allowed on Ontario roads only under a provincial pilot program, and municipalities decide whether to take part. Mississauga's shared rental program, launched in the summer of 2024, offers about 900 e-scooters and 300 e-bikes. A staff update on its 2025 season went to General Committee on Feb. 18.
With Damerla's motion defeated, the city will not send a formal request to Queen's Park on licensing or registration.
