Fight against planned obsolescence and the right to repair: Quebec is on the right track
Quebec, September 12, 2023 – At the invitation of the members of the Committee on Labour and the Economy, the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) will testify this evening in connection with the study of Bill 29. On this occasion, its President and Chief Executive Officer, Jean-François Champagne and the President of the Quebec Division of AIA Canada, Élisabeth Lambert, will invite Quebec MPs to quickly adopt this historic piece of legislation, which will enshrine the right to repair in the Act.
Access to data essential for automotive repairability
Note that on June 1, the Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, introduced Bill 29: An Act to protect consumers from planned obsolescence and to promote the durability, repairability and maintenance of goods. In the automotive sector, the legislation proposes to break the monopoly of car manufacturers and their certified dealers on connected vehicle data. At present, the latter keep taking advantage of the lack of a framework adapted to the new reality of smart and electric vehicles to monopolize access to this data, which is essential for car maintenance and repair.
Right to Repair: important benefits within reach for Quebec
By passing this bill, Quebec parliamentarians will ensure that they maintain healthy competition in the auto care market, which guarantees competitive prices. They will also allow thousands of employees in the auto care sector in Quebec to leverage their expertise to work on the successful transport electrification. Finally, they will preserve an essential service offer in the regions of Quebec, where manufacturers and their dealers are absent, while promoting increased road safety.
Parliamentarians urged to act quickly on this Quebec consensus
In fact, AIA Canada intends to take advantage of its visit to a parliamentary committee, scheduled for 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12, to encourage Quebec MPs to quickly pass this beneficial bill, whose measures are the subject of a broad consensus within Quebec society, and especially, to reject any attempt to alter or diminish its scope.
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“Quebec has a golden opportunity to lead the way in Canada in the right to repair in the automotive sector. In Quebec, we do not have automobile manufacturers, but we are the heart of the auto care industry. By quickly passing Bill 29, parliamentarians will protect consumers, help Quebec businesses and adapt the legislative framework to the requirements of transforming part of the vehicle fleet to hybrid and electric cars.”
– Jean-François Champagne, President and CEO of AIA Canada
About the Automotive Industries Association of Canada
We represent, support and lead innovation in Canada’s $37.8 billion auto care sector. With thousands of members from coast to coast, our vision, research, training programs and advocacy supports Canada’s collision and mechanical sectors. Our best practices for the auto care industry help our members keep Canada’s fleet of almost 26.6 million vehicles on the road.
Whether you have been in a collision or require maintenance, our members help vehicles last longer, pollute less and keep drivers safer by offering Canadians any product or service a vehicle may need after it rolls off the dealership’s lot.
The auto care industry in Quebec represents:
- $7 billion annually;
- More than 100,000 jobs;
- 5,895 car repair and maintenance shops, and 1,524 enterprises in the supply chain;
- Many head offices with names that are well known to Quebecers.
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For more information, please contact the Communications Department:
180 Elgin Street, Suite 1400 Ottawa, ON K2P 2K3
1-800-808-2920, ext. 2285
Mr. Jean-François Champagne, President and CEO of AIA Canada, is available for interviews. Ms. Élisabeth Lambert, President of the Quebec division of AIA Canada, is also available to discuss the reality of Quebec businesses.