Canada Is Seeking Savings by Mandating the Right to Repair Electronics

The right to repair is first mentioned in Canada's federal government 2023 budget, included in the section titled Making Life More Affordable and Supporting the Middle Class.

According to Ars Technica, the government will seek to develop a right-to-repair to provide a "targeted framework" for mending household gadgets and appliances by 2024. The federal government said it would engage with provinces and territories before enacting the right to repair throughout Canada.

"When it comes to broken appliances or devices, high repair fees and a lack of access to specific parts often mean Canadians are pushed to buy new products rather than repairing the ones they have. This is expensive for people and creates harmful waste," the 2023 budget report reads.

The budget also implies that third-party repairs may be less expensive than having the original maker fix a device like a phone, much more so than it ought to be.

Support for Right-to-Repair Law

The acceptance by the European Commission (EC) of a proposal mandating technology manufacturers to offer repairs for up to ten years after purchase, depending on product type, coincides with Canada's budget presentation. The plan will not become legislation unless approved by the European Parliament and Council.

A global perspective on right-to-repair debates reveals the complexity of trying to please consumer activists and tech businesses. Others have questioned the efficacy of the EU right-to-repair law since it does not guarantee that affordable features, such as replacement parts, tools, and instructions, are included.

Nevertheless, others, such as the director-general of the tech trade group DigitalEurope, argue that the regulation should be based on "manufacturer-led repair networks."

New York passed the Digital Fair Repair Act at the very last minute in 2022, making it the first state to guarantee the right to repair electronic devices.

However, tech giants' home repair programs have been criticized for things like insufficient product support. In Apple's case, there is also the need for remote original equipment manufacturer (OEM) authorization to complete repairs.

In July 2022, India stated it would form a committee to draft a right-to-repair framework that may apply to electronics, cars, agricultural equipment, and consumer durables.

Universal Charging Port

Canada's 2023 budget showed its interest in a common electrical charging port. A universal charging port may just save households money and e-waste, according to the budget.

The EU famously mandated that smartphones, tablets, and other consumer goods with wired charging have a USB-C connector by December 28, 2024. Laptops must comply by April 2026.

Several nations are currently exploring universal charging port legislation due to the EU's requirements.

Due to the high expenses involved, India is contemplating implementing such a law by March 2025. In August 2022, Brazil concluded a public survey on mandating USB-C ports for smartphone charging. While such a bill hasn't moved much in the US, some legislators have urged the Secretary of Commerce for a plan.