Manitoba has become the second province in Canada to introduce right-to-repair protections for consumers.

In October 2025, Quebec’s right-to-repair rules—featuring specific provisions for automotive service—came into force. Manitoba’s Bill 15 builds on elements of Quebec’s consumer protection framework, as well as recent changes to the federal Copyright Act that aftermarket stakeholders, including AIA Canada, have supported as a foundation for national right-to-repair legislation.

Coincidentally, on the same day as Manitoba was tabling the amendment to its consumer protection act with Bill 15, Dr. David Coletto, CEO of pollster Abacus Data, was telling attendees at AIA Canada’s Canadian Auto Care Industry Conference that the push for greater economic sovereignty in Canada had he potential to bring added momentum to the Right to Repair argument.

“Whether we’re talking about global automakers having a monopoly on access to a computer in my car, or the data that’s in that car, it’s aligned with the same conversations happening around how we make Canada less reliant on the United States and more self-sufficient,” he said.

While the bill is industry-agnostic, Minister of Public Service Delivery Mintu Sandhu pointed to his own experience to illustrate the issue.

“I have a truck that stopped running and warning lights came on. I took it to a garage, and they said, ‘Sorry, we don’t have the software—we can’t fix it.’ So I had to send it to the dealership,” he said.

Sandhu added that many Manitobans are asking why they have only one repair option.

AIA Canada welcomed the move, even without automotive-specific provisions.

“While the legislation does not reference any specific industry, it lays the groundwork for sector-specific regulations through future stakeholder engagement,” the association said.

Belron Canada, operator of the Speedy Glass network, also praised the legislation. Glass replacement has increasingly required access to ADAS driver safety systems and calibration data.

“Right to repair is about empowering consumers with choice while strengthening the communities where we live and work,” said Corinne Lagueux, Vice President, Corporate & Legal Affairs.

AIA Canada notes the auto care sector contributes more than $1.3 billion to Manitoba’s economy and supports over 18,000 jobs. Independent shops, it adds, can save motorists up to 30 per cent on common repairs—and significantly more when aftermarket parts are used.