2025 has been a dynamic year for Canada’s auto care sector, marked by political shifts, trade uncertainty, and groundbreaking policy developments. From the federal election and escalating U.S. tariffs to Quebec’s new right to repair regulations and growing global collaboration, AIA Canada has remained at the forefront, advocating for our members and the auto care industry at large. 

The top issues to highlight include: 

• Trade, tariffs and a federal election: 2025 began with heavy political and economic turbulence – U.S. tariffs escalated cross-border tensions, and Canada entered a federal election. AIA Canada responded swiftly, launching AutoCareVotes.ca, our first national election hub to mobilize members and put right to repair front and centre. Nearly 300 letters were sent to candidates, and shops welcomed local candidates to see firsthand how the right to repair supports affordability, small business, and consumer choice. 

• Post election rebuild: With the Liberals securing another term, we refocused our messaging around their core priorities: economic sovereignty, support for domestic industries, affordability, and sustainability. These themes directly reinforce the urgency of national right to repair legislation. AIA Canada has since engaged federal as well as provincial officials across Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, ensuring right to repair remains part of key policy conversations while trade uncertainty continues. 

• Quebec – leads the way on right to repair: Quebec continues to set the benchmark with new right to repair legislation coming into effect on October 5, 2025. Working with government officials and the Consumer Protection Office, AIA Canada equipped members with guidance materials, resource links, and a bilingual webinar to ensure shops were ready for implementation. 

• International partnerships: Right to repair is a global movement and AIA Canada continues to represent member interests internationally through the Associations in Motion network. Our 2025 global engagement highlights include attending Autopromotec in Italy this past May and AAPEX in November where we participated in strategic planning sessions with international right to repair partners and shared emerging trends and common challenges. In September, we joined the Auto Care Association’s Legislative Summit in Washington, meeting with Congressional offices to support the U.S. Repair Act and advocate for harmonized repair standards across North America. 

• On-the-ground advocacy: Members of Parliament, media, and momentum: Over the summer AIA Canada surveyed its national memberships and confirmed what we hear daily from shops, distributors, and suppliers: 79 per cent identify right to repair as their top issue and 100 per cent agree it must remain AIA Canada’s primary policy focus. These insights shaped our fall priorities and continue to strengthen the case we bring to government. National visibility also grew through opinion pieces posted in The Hill Times and Autosphere. To support policy development, we submitted recommendations to the federal budget process positioning right to repair as a practical solution to offset tariffs and strengthen Canada’s competitiveness.