AIA Canada joins Auto Care ON AIR to talk the right to repair and workforce initiatives

In a major legislative breakthrough, Canada’s Bills C-244 and C-294 have officially passed through the Senate after years of relentless advocacy. This achievement marks a significant step toward a unified right to repair framework, allowing the breaking of software locks for repairs in the auto care industry.  

At AAPEX this November in Las Vegas, Nevada, AIA Canada President and CEO Jean-François Champagne, CAE, joins Vice President of Communications at Auto Care Association, Stacey Miller, to discuss the progress of the right to repair in Canada during an episode of Traction Control.  

Listen to the episode now!

Throughout this episode, Champagne explains how these amendments to the Copyright Act, like U.S. laws, are game-changing for repair access. Advocates emphasized the need for automotive inclusion, ensuring diagnostic and repair data access—essential for modern vehicle maintenance. While automakers raised concerns about cybersecurity and intellectual property, these arguments proved unfounded, especially as the CASIS agreement failed to keep pace with evolving vehicle technology. Amid Canada’s shifting political landscape, this victory could not be timelier.   

In addition, Champagne also highlights the critical work AIA Canada is doing, including addressing the skills shortage, advocating for workforce development on a national level, and the pressing need for electric vehicle (EV) training across mechanical and collision sectors. 

Interested in tuning into our other industry conversations?  

Watch Curbside Chat. Curbside Chat is a video podcast series that gives sector professionals a forum to talk about the issues important to the Canadian auto care industry with the people who make things happen.