Right to repair bills passed by Canadian government

The Canadian Senate passed two ‘right to repair’ bills amending the country’s Copyright Act on Oct. 31, with the legislation now awaiting royal assent before becoming law.

Bill C-244 amends the Copyright Act by allowing farmers and others to bypass digital locks and access diagnostic software needed to repair machinery. Bill C-294 amends the Act to allow for increased interoperability of different technologies, including parts and computer programs, without violating copyright laws.

“After years of advocacy, these bills provide farmers the ability to repair their own equipment, ensuring the continued functionality of the advanced technology essential to modern agriculture,” said the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) in a statement praising the passage of the legislation. “Together, these bills enshrine the right to repair, helping farmers manage their operations sustainably and independently.”

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The GGC called on the provincial governments to consider similar measures in their jurisdictions.

Bill C-244 was first introduced to Parliament as a private members bill in February 2022, by Wilson Miao, the Liberal Member of Parliament for Richmond Centre in B.C. Bill C-294 was introduced by Jeremy Patzer, the Conservative MP for Saskatchewan’s Cypress Hills—Grasslands riding, in June 2022.