CBC Investigation Finds 10 of 12 Canadian Retailers Selling Illegal E-Bikes, E-Scooters

A CBC Marketplace hidden camera investigation found that 10 of 12 stores across the Greater Toronto Area sold e-bikes and e-scooters exceeding Ontario’s legal speed limits. At six locations, salespeople explained or demonstrated how to unlock built-in speed restrictors. The findings come as hospitalizations from e-scooter injuries among children 15 and younger jumped from 54 to 150 in a single year, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

What the investigation found

Marketplace journalists visited 12 stores in the GTA, including Best Buy, Canadian Tire, Costco, Amego, Emmo, and EZbike. Ontario law limits e-bikes to 32 km/h and e-scooters to 24 km/h on flat surfaces, with a minimum rider age of 16. At 10 stores, staff sold vehicles exceeding these speeds. At six locations, salespeople showed how to bypass speed limiters. One e-scooter was capable of reaching 120 km/h. Some retailers marketed motorized scooters to children as young as eight years old.

The legal gray zone

Selling a faster vehicle is not illegal in Canada. However, operating it on public roads violates provincial rules. Most retailers told CBC that customers must follow local laws and that higher speeds are intended for off-road use only. Michael Pasquali, founder of the Canadian Electric Bicycle Association, called the situation “heartbreaking.” Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said Ottawa is considering its role in regulating device safety, while most riding rules remain provincial.

Rising injuries fuel calls for action

E-scooter hospitalizations among children 15 and younger rose sharply from 54 to 150 in a single year, according to health data. Amy Richards, whose 14-year-old son Jayden suffered a traumatic brain injury after losing control of his scooter in Newfoundland, is calling for stronger protections. Jayden spent 21 days in a coma and 102 days in hospital. He continues to experience memory loss and had to relearn how to walk, talk, and eat. Fredericton Police launched a public education campaign to help residents understand safe and legal use of these devices.

Enforcement gaps across provinces

Most provincial traffic laws limit e-bikes and e-scooters to 32 km/h or less. Age restrictions vary across Canada, ranging from 12 to 18 years old. The territories and some provinces have no minimum age to ride. It falls mostly to local police services to enforce these rules. Vancouver issued 1,275 tickets and warnings during an e-scooter enforcement blitz, but enforcement remains inconsistent across the country.

Final Thoughts

The investigation exposes a regulatory gap where retailers can legally sell high-speed devices that riders cannot legally operate on public roads. With injuries climbing and enforcement fragmented, pressure is mounting for consistent national safety standards and stronger enforcement.

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