by Gillian Cantello, CGOW Environment Committee
When was the last time your smartphone slowed to a crawl after just a couple of years, or your washing machine gave out right after its warranty expired? If it felt suspiciously timed, you might not be imagining things. Around the world, critics argue that many manufacturers deliberately design products with “planned obsolescence” – the idea that devices will fail or become outdated far sooner than necessary. The goal? To push consumers toward buying new products instead of fixing the ones they already own.
Even if you did take the initiative to have your product fixed, many companies lock down repairs with proprietary software, unique screws, or glued-in batteries. Some companies refuse to sell parts outside their own costly service networks. Smartphone owners often find that an affordable local technician can’t help them because the necessary tools are kept under lock and key. This happened to me once and I was forced to drive to Montreal to have my Samsung Galaxy phone repaired!
Why does this matter? Because planned obsolescence is not just an inconvenience – it’s an environmental and economic problem. The United Nations estimates that the world produces more than 50 million tonnes of electronic waste each year, much of it toxic and non-biodegradable. Repairing instead of replacing saves money, reduces pollution, and makes better use of the resources that went into creating our devices in the first place.
That’s where the Right to Repair movement comes in.
Globally, and in Canada, the Right to Repair movement is already changing laws. In the European Union, new rules require certain appliances to have parts available for up to 10 years. In the United States, several states have passed laws forcing companies to open up repair information. Even tech giants like Apple – long opposed to outside repairs – have begun offering self-service repair programs.This has led to the creation of iFixit.com, a website where repair manuals and simple instructions are posted by a growing community of fixers.
Here in Canada, the push for Right to Repair is also gaining momentum. Quebec was the first province to adopt legislative changes in 2023 with Bill 29 – An Act to protect consumers from planned obsolescence and to promote the durability, repairability and maintenance of goods. This Act introduced substantive amendments to the province’s Consumer Protection Act and imposed significant new obligations on merchants and manufacturers.
For example, Quebec’s Act introduced the Good Working Order Warranty, which provides a specific warranty duration for household appliances, technology devices, as well as other goods. The Warranty also provides consumers with the right to have these products repaired by the merchant, manufacturer, or a third party, with the merchant or manufacturer assuming the cost of those repairs.
In Ontario, Bill 187 was tabled in 2024. This bill proposes adding Right to Repair requirements to our province’s Consumer Protection Act. While it was not passed into law, it is an indication that this Province may also follow the lead set in Quebec.
National changes are also coming. In 2024, Canada’s Parliament enacted two bills (C-244 and C-294) that amended the Copyright Act, allowing repairers to circumvent computer programs and digital locks. These changes are part of a suite of federal initiatives aimed at extending the lives of products, including amendments to the Competition Act and public consultation on a proposed Right to Repair Framework that closed last September.
The Right to Repair movement is part of a broader effort to support a circular economy, which seeks to minimize waste by reusing, repairing, and recycling products. Canadians, like people everywhere, want products that last and the freedom to fix them when they break. The Right to Repair Movement is about reclaiming that freedom, holding manufacturers accountable, and ensuring that “broken” doesn’t have to mean “buy new”.
What You Can Do
If you have a household item that is in need of repair, please bring it to the Convent Glen Orleans Wood Environment Committee’s Repair Cafe at the Orleans United Church on Saturday, September 27th. At this free event, experienced volunteers from our community will do their very best to fix your item, while you watch and learn. The Repair Cafe will also welcome 3 local sewists and 2 neighbourhood bike mechanics, so you can also bring in damaged clothing and bicycles. I hope to see you there.
