Officials in Mississauga are ramping up their efforts to urge the provincial government to impose more regulations on e-scooters. One city councillor has described the situation regarding these motorized micromobility devices as a “crisis” when it comes to public safety.
Mayor Carolyn Parrish believes that Ontario’s Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria might soon announce new powers for police forces across the province, enabling them to enforce road rules related to e-scooters more effectively.
This shift would relieve Mississauga bylaw officers of much of their enforcement duties. Parrish noted that police are “better equipped, and obviously will get a lot more reaction from the parents that are allowing their kids to scoot around on the roads (unsafely) when they’re 12 years old.”
The provincial government is expected to tackle the issues surrounding e-scooters and e-bikes soon, with additional regulations likely coming this fall.
Both Parrish and Ward 3 Coun. Chris Fonseca were part of a Mississauga delegation at last month’s Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa, where they highlighted concerns about e-scooter safety and called for further regulations on these devices.
Following the conference, the city sent follow-up letters to the province outlining various concerns and requests.
Ward 3 Coun. Chris Fonseca says Mississauga is facing an e-scooter safety “crisis.”
During last Wednesday’s city council meeting, Parrish referred to their trip to Ottawa as “really productive,” stating that provincial ministers and representatives listened attentively on several issues, including e-scooter safety.
Fonseca mentioned that during last month’s meeting with Sarkaria in Ottawa, officials from Mississauga expressed their serious concerns about the ongoing “crisis” linked with e-scooter usage.
She added that the transportation minister confirmed he was looking into regulations for e-scooters that would involve requiring insurance and licensing for any vehicle exceeding 30 km/h.
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Moreover, according to Fonseca, Sarkaria “also indicated he would be giving authority to police to be able to confiscate the e-scooters (when necessary).”
The councillor from east Mississauga shared her growing worries over e-scooter safety this past spring and summer as complaints surged about unsafe riding in local parks – particularly in Garnetwood and Burnhamdale parks.
Fonseca mentioned that city bylaw and parks staff conducted some “very effective” educational outreach and enforcement efforts in those areas to address these issues.
She reiterated that such initiatives are needed given “the crisis we’re in,” but emphasized that action from the minister is essential for a more permanent solution regarding safety concerns.
Thanks to the active reporting of Ward 3 residents, I’ve asked city enforcement to place bylaw officers in parks across the ward.
These officers are stationed to educate the community and appropriately enforce regulations regarding e-bike and e-scooter use. pic. twitter. com/TTuvy7m968
– Chris Fonseca (@Chris_Fonseca3) August 27, 2026
The worries raised by Fonseca and Parrish resonate with all city councillors as year three of Mississauga’s challenged e-scooter/e-bike rental program wraps up. The city started its third year of this shared micromobility initiative back in late April after previously considering pausing it – excluding less contentious bike rentals – until safety issues could be sorted out.
Since summer 2024, Mississauga’s rental program has provided around 900 electric scooters and 300 electric bikes available for rent throughout various locations like parks, downtown areas, and other neighborhoods within the city.
The program has faced several challenges concerning safe usage practices as well as proper parking protocols following rentals of these scooters.
Council members review this rental program each year aiming at pinpointing areas needing improvements ahead of next spring/summer season.
Ward 8 Coun. and Deputy Mayor Matt Mahoney wanted to pause e-scooter rentals in Mississauga until safety concerns could be properly addressed.
Mississauga’s Deputy Mayor Matt Mahoney has repeatedly advocated over recent years for better safety measures regarding both rented scooters from city’s programs as well as privately owned models.
He proposed a motion early April 2026 aimed at halting scooter rentals temporarily until relevant safety matters could be comprehensively tackled; however this motion did not pass. Instead council opted for continuing access while enhancing scrutiny over improving overall safety conditions related thereto.
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