The problem with e-bikes is nobody knows what they are.

When I first
considered getting an e-bike I was looking for something that was
foremost a bicycle and could be used without the power assist on but
have it available for difficult hills, high winds, or the end of
extremely long rides. After trying out my wife’s I ended up
purchasing a Norco Scene VLT and wrote a
review of it which included:

Definitions first. How do I define e-bike. An electric motor
assisted bicycle that can be pedalled easily without the assist
turned on and that requires pedalling for the motor assist to
function. Any so called “e-bike” that does not require pedalling
to move (except when coasting) is a variation on an electric
motorcycle or scooter.

To me an electric
motor assisted bicycle looks like a bicycle and if it does not it
probably is not an electric motor assisted bicycle. I use that
term because I think that is a more accurate description of what we
refer to as e-bikes (Class 1 according to the proposed new Ontario
regulations discussed below). But that ship has not only sailed but
it has sunk, as the term e-bike is firmly established in the public’s
mind.

However the fact
that there are no generally agreed union legal definitions of e-bikes
has enabled manufactures and retailers, as well as much of the
public, to call anything with two wheels and an electric motor an
e-bike, including what are obviously motorized scooters or mopeds. I
have even seen what looked like an enclosed golf cart marketed as an
e-bike.

Regulators are
finally starting to catch up and, surprisingly, the Ontario
government is proposing a classification which essentially meets my
definition but with some more detailed requirements, such as weight
and maximum speed. They include a separate category for heavier
e-bikes such as cargo bikes, which allow throttle control, but have
the same maximum speed restrictions.

These bikes would be
treated like bicycles but with a minimum age requirement of 16 years
for riders.

The two separate
categories allows jurisdictions that feel that the heaver class 2
e-bikes may not be appropriate for a particular location to still
allow the lighter Class 1 e-bikes.

I have mixed views
on the age restriction because treating proper e-bikes as bicycles
would preclude an age limit, but at the same time I think all riders
will use e-bike more effectively if they learn to use the gears on a
regular bike first so they can use the gears and power assist
together rather than simply relying on the power assist when
pedalling gets a bit more difficult. As well, young healthy people
today do not always get as much exercise as they should in our
society.

Electric scooters
and mopeds and anything else that is a motorcycle-style vehicle will
require registration and insurance and drivers will have to have a
motorcycle licence.

Hopefully this will
keep those motor vehicles off of bicycle and multi-user pathways that
they do not belong on and ease some of the public hysteria about
actual e-bikes that has been the result of not understanding what an
e-bike actually is, because there was no generally agreed upon
definition.

According to the
Government of Ontario (source):

The key benefits of an updated regulatory framework for e-bikes
include:
• Improving safety by enabling requirements that
reflect differences in e-bike speed, weight, and design,
•
Providing greater clarity for riders, industry, municipalities, and
enforcement,
• Modernizing the framework to keep pace with a
rapidly evolving e-bike market; and
• Supporting the safe use
of e-bikes as a sustainable transportation option.

The full Ontario
government proposal is below: 

A review of the Ontario government proposal is also provided here
(but note it is an e-bike retailer website).

For additional
information I tried to find a review of all Canadian provinces
regulations that was not associated with a retailer but was
unsuccessful. These are some summaries provided by retailers:

E-Bike
Laws in Canada 2026: Every Province and Territory Explained – Street
Rides

Canadian
E-Bike Laws by Province 2026: BC to PEI Complete Guide |
FavoriteBikes

Understanding
E-Bike Classes in Canada: Class 1, 2, and 3 Explained – Chain
Reaction Bicycles Inc.