Canada’s New Right-to-Repair Law

Friday, February 21, 2025

‘Looking ahead, it’s going to be about balance.’

By Mary Loggan

Farmers across Ontario are breathing a sigh of relief following the recent passing of Canada’s new Right-to-Repair law – which could offer farmers many solutions and allow them to repair and maintain equipment independently, reducing reliance on service contracts and minimizing costly downtime.

This law includes two key bills: Bill C-244, which permits individuals and third-party repair services to bypass digital locks for software repairs without infringing on copyright, and Bill C-294, which facilitates the unlocking of digital barriers to ensure compatibility between devices, software, and components.

With both bills receiving Royal Assent, the next step is drafting the regulations that will bring them into effect.

Better Farming recently connected with OFA vice-president Ethan Wallace to explore how this will affect Ontario producers.

How will it impact farmers?

Wallace says that farmers will soon be able to “access the tools, information, and parts needed to repair machinery like tractors, combine harvesters, and other essential farm equipment.”

The fifth-generation dairy farmer points out that producers often rely on specialized equipment to do their work; however, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in Canada have tightly controlled access to technology, including repair codes, diagnostic tools, and service manuals.

“This often resulted in repair costs, long wait times for technician visits, and a lack of control over when and how their equipment was fixed,” he says.

“The law aims to rectify this imbalance by providing farmers greater access to the resources needed to keep their equipment running smoothly.”

Wallace says the law will compel equipment manufacturers to provide farmers with essential tools and documentation required for repairs.

This includes access to repair manuals and schematics; producers will no longer be locked out of repair information. They can access detailed manuals, circuit diagrams, and troubleshooting guides for their machinery.

He says the law also requires producers to have access to software and diagnostics, necessary software updates, error codes, and diagnostic tools.

Benefits for farmers

“For Canadian farmers, this is essential for productivity,” Wallace explains.

“The ability to perform in-house repairs or work with local independent mechanics can result in substantial savings.

“A typical repair on a tractor or combine harvester could cost thousands of dollars when performed by a manufacturer’s service technician. With the new law in place, these expenses could be reduced.”

He stresses that farm equipment breakdowns often occur at critical times – such as during planting or harvest – and the Right-to-Repair law could help minimize farmers’ waiting time for costly service calls.

“With access to the necessary parts and tools, they can avoid costly delays, which are particularly important for time-sensitive crops,” he says.

“I have experienced equipment breakdowns on my own farm, and they always seem to happen at the worst possible time, usually at the same time everyone else is having issues.

“This means dealers and equipment repair personnel are extremely busy, and often, we must wait our turn. This is never the dealer’s fault; breakdowns always seem to happen simultaneously.”

However, he says, “This can be costly; if we don’t get our land seeded or crop harvested in time, we could be looking at significant reductions in yields, impacting our farm’s bottom line.”

He points out this is an opportunity for farmers to have greater control over their operations by lowering repair costs and reducing downtime.

It also has the potential to level the playing field for smaller farmers, who might not have the same financial resources as larger operations to pay for OEM repairs or long wait times.

He also says that “interoperability is a big issue on the farm, especially for those of us with existing farm equipment or who buy used equipment.

“The law aims to ensure that if I have a tractor or combine of a specific brand, I can buy a piece of equipment or an equipment accessory from a different brand, and they will be compatible with each other.”

Potential challenges

“When something new is introduced, there will always be growing pains,” Wallace says.

“I think it is just going to take some time to figure out all the details and what will be required by each party.”

Wallace points out that some manufacturers may be concerned about the implications for their business models. OEMs have pointed out that providing more access to repair resources could compromise their equipment’s safety, reliability, and performance.

“We understand that OEMs need to protect their intellectual property and that safeguards need to be in place to prevent software modification that would circumvent the original design and function of the equipment.”

Wallace says that despite these concerns, the government has emphasized that the law includes measures to protect the integrity and safety of agricultural machinery.

Manufacturers can still impose quality controls and ensure that repairs meet specific standards. The key difference, he points out, is that farmers now have more freedom to decide how and when to repair their equipment.

“It is important we try and work together; we have great manufacturers and want to do what is best for everyone.”

Looking ahead

“Looking ahead, it’s going to be about balance,” says Wallace.

“By striking a balance between affordability and accessibility for farmers and profitability for manufacturers, these changes ensure we can make critical repairs quickly and as cost-effectively as possible, as well as be able to access a broader range of compatible equipment to use on the farm.”

He points out that the hope is for producers to improve their bottom line in the long run and keep expenses lower without impacting the manufacturer.

“It’s important for all parties to work together and ensure businesses are profitable for everyone. This will be included when it comes to outlining the regulations.”

He says, “Overall, we hope to see the benefits trickle down to all levels of industry and beyond.” BF