e-4000 (Information and privacy)

The Government of Canada strives to build a resilient, sustainable, and competitive economy, while seeking to achieve an ambitious environmental agenda. These efforts include supporting a more circular economy approach for the management of products, aiming to ensure that the value of products is kept in the economy – and out of the environment – for as long as possible.

The Government of Canada is committed to doing its part in removing obstacles and incentivizing manufacturers to better meet the needs of the consumers and the environment.

In his mandate letters dated December 16, 2021, the Prime Minister specifically asked the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, as well as the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, to work together to provide Canadians with a ‘right to repair’ to extend the life of their home appliances by requiring manufacturers to supply repair manuals and spare parts, and businesses to inform Canadians of the environmental impacts of consumer products. The Prime Minister further asked for the amendment of the Copyright Act to remove obstacles to the repair of digital devices and systems.

The work the Government is undertaking in this area will provide guidance to other industries, including the automotive industry. Throughout this work, Canada’s automotive and automotive repair industries will continue to enjoy the benefits of the long-standing Canadian Automotive Service Information Standards (CASIS), a voluntary agreement among most automotive manufacturers and repair providers. Through CASIS, repair and service shops receive access to available repair and service information, provided they commit to the provisions of the standard by making the necessary investments in equipment, tools and trainings.

Facilitating repair is a multi-faceted public policy challenge, which requires a variety of measures at all levels of government. To preserve our planet for future generations, it is important to empower Canadians with the flexibility to choose the best options for maintaining and repairing the products they use or own.

To the extent that the operation of a vehicle generates data that pertains to an identifiable individual, the collection, use, or disclosure of that personal information will be subject to Canada’s privacy laws. The federal private sector privacy law, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) sets out the rules which organizations must follow to protect Canadians’ privacy. PIPEDA provides individuals with control over their personal information, including by requiring that organizations obtain an individual’s consent before handling their information. Under PIPEDA, organizations must provide individuals with access to their personal information, on request, subject to limited exceptions. In ongoing efforts to increase consumer trust and enhance Canada’s prosperity in the digital economy, the Government of Canada has tabled Bill C-27, the Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022, which seeks to replace PIPEDA with a Consumer Privacy Protection Act (CPPA).

Going forward, the Government will continue to work with stakeholders to develop common approaches to technical matters on a sector-by-sector basis, including by working closely with automotive manufacturers, the service and repair industry, and by seeking to align with strategic partners, such as the United States.

The Canadian automotive sector and its aftermarket industry are key anchors of our economy and the Government remains committed to supporting the competitiveness of the sector and its transition towards connectivity, automation and zero-emission technologies, while simultaneously seeking to ensure that consumers’ privacy rights are comprehensive and robust.