The lamps in Jean Tremblay’s Sherbrooke home have seen four generations of his family gather around them. “My grandmother bought these in the 1940s,” he tells me, adjusting the antique brass fixture that still works perfectly. “Things were built to last back then.”
That philosophy is making a comeback in Quebec, where the province’s groundbreaking consumer protection law has just expanded. As of January 1, 2024, Quebec’s “right to repair” legislation requires manufacturers to keep replacement parts and repair services available for products like refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers for years after purchase.
The law targets what many consumers have long suspected: planned obsolescence – the practice of designing products to fail prematurely, forcing consumers to replace them.
“It’s about giving Quebecers back the power to decide when they replace their belongings,” says Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, who championed the legislation. “Why should a perfectly good refrigerator end up in a landfill just because one small part failed and couldn’t be replaced?”
The new rules expand on Bill 29, passed in 2019, which amended Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act. Until now, the legislation had only established guarantees about product durability. This next phase specifically tackles the repair aspect, addressing a frustration many Quebecers share.
Caroline Sauriol, executive director of consumer advocacy group Option Consommateurs, has been fighting for these changes for years. “We’ve documented countless cases where consumers were forced to discard appliances that could have been easily fixed if parts were available,” she explains from her Montreal office.
According to data from Quebec’s Ministry of Environment, household appliances generate over 20,000 tonnes of waste annually in the province. The ministry estimates the new measures could reduce that volume by up to 30 percent within five years.
Under the expanded law, manufacturers must maintain parts and repair services for dishwashers and ranges for at least 10 years after selling the last unit. For refrigerators, washers, and dryers, the requirement extends to 11 years. Air conditioners and water heaters must be supported for 14 years.
The legislation doesn’t just benefit consumers financially. Environmental groups have praised Quebec for addressing the sustainability crisis created by our throwaway culture.
“This is climate action that makes immediate sense to everyone,” says Marie-Ève Leclerc of Équiterre, a Quebec environmental organization. “Extending the life of household goods by just two years can significantly reduce carbon emissions associated with manufacturing new products.”
The road to implementation hasn’t been without challenges. Industry groups initially pushed back against the requirements, arguing they would increase costs and limit innovation.
Éric Côté, spokesperson for the Canadian Appliance Manufacturers Association, expressed concerns when the bill was first proposed. “While we support sustainability goals, manufacturers need flexibility to innovate and improve technologies,” Côté stated at legislative hearings in 2022.
The province ultimately struck a balance by phasing in requirements and giving manufacturers time to adapt their supply chains. Companies had three years to prepare for this January’s implementation.
Some businesses are already seeing opportunity in the new landscape. Réparation Électro-Ménagers Plus, a Montreal-based repair shop, has hired three new technicians in anticipation of increased demand.
“For years, we’ve had to turn customers away because parts weren’t available,” says owner Marcel Gagnon. “Now manufacturers have to provide them, and we’re ready to help people extend the life of their appliances.”
Quebec’s legislation follows similar moves in Europe, where the European Union implemented right to repair rules for certain appliances in 2021. France went further by requiring manufacturers to display “repairability scores” on products.
But Quebec’s approach is distinctive in North America, where a patchwork of state and provincial initiatives has yet to coalesce into comprehensive protection for consumers.
“Quebec is showing leadership on this continent,” says University of Montreal law professor Catherine Piché, who specializes in consumer protection. “They’re addressing both the legal and practical barriers to repair.”
For many Quebecers, the changes can’t come soon enough. Trois-Rivières resident Madeleine Bouchard recently faced the frustration the law aims to prevent. “My five-year-old dryer stopped working last fall,” she explains. “The repair person told me the control board was discontinued and suggested buying a new machine instead. It felt wasteful and unnecessary.”
Under the new rules, that scenario should become increasingly rare. Manufacturers must now ensure parts are available at a reasonable price and within a reasonable timeframe – typically 30 days.
The legislation also addresses the “right to repair” in a deeper sense by prohibiting digital locks that prevent independent repairs. This means consumers won’t be forced to use only manufacturer-approved repair services, which often charge premium rates.
As I wrap up my interview with Jean Tremblay, he points to his new smart refrigerator. “I hope this will still be working when my grandchildren are my age,” he says. “Maybe now it has a fighting chance.”
For Quebec consumers, that fighting chance is now the law.
