Quebec’s Bill 29, the ‘right to repair’ law for repair shop owners, is now in effect.
And while it has been the law since 2023 when Bill 29 was passed, the past two years have been what can be best described as a ‘breaking in period’ for that province’s auto collision repair industry.
Bill 29, officially titled “Loi protégeant les consommateurs contre l’obsolescence programmée et favorisant la durabilité, la réparabilité et l’entretien des biens,” focuses on eliminating planned obsolescence across the entire spectrum of consumer goods, of which key sections of the bill specifically address automotive professionals, and how diagnostics, service, and parts access operate.
Manufacturers are now mandated to provide independent and franchise repair shops with “fair access to vehicle data, diagnostic tools, and replacement parts.”
The Automotive Industries Association of Canada was a key advocate for the bill, emphasizing that the law was only the beginning; stressing that “ongoing representation in the regulation writing” as being key to making the legislation work for the aftermarket.
Automakers have these obligations for providing diagnostic data, according to the Quebec Government Consumer Protection Office website, including:
- Manufacturers cannot avoid the obligation to provide vehicle data. They must give access for diagnostics, maintenance, or repair to owners, lessees, or authorized mechanics; and
- Data must be readable and available free or at a reasonable cost. Techniques that hinder access are prohibited unless justified for safety or legal compliance.
Also, some practices are prohibited if they make maintenance or repair more difficult, unless proven necessary to:
- Protect the consumer or their agent (excluding professionals like mechanics) from serious, direct, and immediate physical harm.