AIA Canada presses Ottawa for national right to repair framework

AIA Canada members gathered recently in Ottawa to meet with federal policymakers for the association’s annual Hill Day on Parliament Hill to press for a national right to repair framework for the auto care sector.

The discussions from Feb. 5 focused on securing a clear and enforceable right to repair at the federal level that guarantees access to vehicle repair data, tools and parts.

Hill Day is the association’s annual advocacy event, where members meet directly with elected officials and staff to discuss issues affecting independent repair businesses. Participants held one-on-one meetings and roundtables and engaged with media.

The association called for federal legislation to ensure consistent access to repair data and tools across provinces and to avoid what it described as a patchwork of inconsistent rules. It said national rules were needed to support competition and consumer choice and to align with provincial developments.

During the event, MNP released a report titled Unlocking access: Why Right to Repair matters for every vehicle owner. The report examined the economic impact of access to vehicle repair data and tools.

According to the report, drivers could save up to 30 per cent, or about $500, on common repairs when using independent shops, and up to 80 per cent on labour-heavy or complex repairs when aftermarket parts were used. It also found that if each independent shop lost one repair per week due to a lack of access to vehicle repair data, annual profit losses could reach $336 million nationally.

The report noted that rural drivers, including operators of emergency fleet vehicles, faced higher service costs where the nearest dealership could be hours away. Independent shops were described as playing a key role in maintaining vehicles in those regions.

In 2025, the association focused on right to repair advocacy at the federal and provincial levels, including engagement during the federal election and support related to Québec’s new regulations.

For 2026, priorities included advancing federal legislation, expanding grassroots engagement with local MPs and addressing broader market issues such as trade, supply chain pressures and the transition to electric vehicles in relation to repair data access.

Image credit: Depositphotos.com

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