Guarantee right-to-repair and repair credit
Petitioners ask the government to guarantee a right-to-repair by requiring manufacturers to supply manuals and parts; introduce a 15% repair tax credit (max $500/year); require appliance environmental labelling; and amend the Copyright Act to permit digital repairs.
Why we would sign this petition
- Makes repairs and parts more available, helping extend appliance lifespans and reduce electronic waste.
- A 15% tax credit (max $500/year) lowers financial barriers to choosing repair over replacement.
- Environmental labelling and copyright fixes would give consumers clearer information and remove legal obstacles to digital repairs.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- The tax credit and new obligations could increase public spending and add complexity to tax administration.
- Mandating parts and manuals may raise manufacturers’ costs, provoke industry resistance, or affect product design and warranties.
- Changing copyright to allow repairs could conflict with IP rights and raise safety, security or liability concerns for repaired devices.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons Home appliances generate a significant amount of garbage when they cannot be repaired, which contributes to waste and pollution; According to a UN report, small appliances and electronic devices produce more than 44 million tonnes of waste per year worldwide; The amount of electronic waste in Canada tripled between 2000 and 2019 and is expected to reach 1.2 million tonnes in 2030, based on the available data; Canadian consumers and repair businesses are often hampered by limited access to replacement parts and technical manuals, which prevents the repairs necessary to extend the life of appliances; and The government’s 2021 platform included commitments to institute a right to repair for home appliances, a repair tax credit and amendments to the Copyright Act to facilitate these repairs. We, the undersigned, citizens and entrepreneurs of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to: 1. Guarantee a right to repair for appliances by requiring manufacturers to provide manuals and replacement parts; 2. Establish a 15% tax credit for appliance repairs, up to a maximum of $500 per year; 3. Inform consumers about the environmental impacts of household appliances so that they can make informed choices; and 4. Modify Canada’s Copyright Act to remove the legal barriers to repairing digital devices.
Government response
No government response is available yet.