Why calls for 'right-to-repair' rules are revving up again for vehicles in Canada

It's nearly closing time at AutoNiche in Markham, Ont., but technicians are still hard at work on a repair for the owner of a small sedan.

Like a lot of auto repair shops, there are tire-changing machines, compressors and an alignment rack. A sign of the times, owner Emily Chung also added a charging station for plug-in vehicles.

Looking into that same future, Chung says she sees the need for something else: legislation that ensures businesses like hers can keep doing those repairs well down the road.

While most Canadians can get their vehicle fixed wherever they want these days, she worries that independent shops could be left behind by new cars — linked wirelessly to manufacturers — capable of limiting access to data that helps technicians diagnose a problem.

"If we don't have access to the information, then it makes it more difficult for us to be able to solve their [the customer's] problem," said Chung, who is concerned about the long-term viability of shops like hers.

"This is something that really needs to be addressed."

Canadian politicians can expect to hear similar arguments in the months ahead as the discussion about "right-to-repair" legislation appears set to gather steam in Ottawa.