BY KYLE LARKIN

Canada’s grain sector is celebrating a crucial legislative milestone with the recent passage of bills C-244 and C-294. Focused on equipment repair and interoperability, they remove key copyright barriers that have historically constrained Canadian farmers from repairing and enabling their own equipment.

After years of advocacy, we are proud to have played a part in the passage of these bills. As both bills were in development, we appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology to raise awareness of the need for right-to-repair (R2R) for farm machinery. Once the bills reached the Senate, we also appeared before the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy to make a final push for their passage. By working closely with members of Parliament, senators and partner organizations from many sectors we were able to make the passage of these bills a priority, and they subsequently received unanimous support in both chambers.

Bill C-244, which amends the Copyright Act, will allow farmers to access the diagnostics software necessary to repair today’s technologically forward equipment. Previously, farmers were either forced to purchase expensive software subscriptions or needed to rely on their local dealer to fix their machinery.

With dealers facing a significant labour crunch, farmers would sometimes need to wait days for their equipment to be fixed. This was an untenable situation during critical periods of the year, such as harvest. Now, through access to diagnostic software, farmers can repair their own equipment without being locked out and forced to call their local dealer.

Bill C-294 also amends the Copyright Act. It focuses on parts and equipment interoperability. This bill forces manufacturers to allow their customers to use after- market parts. For example, new John Deere combines must be interoperable with the latest Honeybee headers. Overall, the bill provides farmers with more flexibility to use various brands according to their specific needs, preferences and budgets without compatibility concerns.

The passage of these legal reforms reflects tangible benefits for farmers. With Bill C-244, they can now repair their equipment independently, which reduces reliance on costly dealer services. Bill C-294, meanwhile, allows farmers to tailor their operations with a wider range of machinery options to enhance efficiency and productivity. Together, these changes signify greater control over equipment decisions, reduced operational costs and greater efficiency.

However, in the United States, R2R legislation has been enacted state by state. The same approach is ultimately needed here in Canada. Like the varied approaches seen across the U.S., provincial legislation in Canada can now be more prescriptive, defining how manufacturers, dealerships and customers interact. For example, certain states have focused such laws on consumer electronics but excluded farm equipment, while others have addressed farm machinery directly, fostering a more balanced relationship between farmers and large manufacturers.

This legislative progress reflects a commitment to a more equitable agricultural sector. It empowers farmers to better manage their operations. By addressing longstanding issues in equipment repair and interoperability, Canada’s federal policy-makers have reinforced their support for a strong, competitive and sustainable farming industry.

We remain dedicated to building on this progress and will push for further policies that secure a resilient future for Canadian farmers. These recent legislative advancements demonstrate the positive impact of focused advocacy and the importance of industry responsiveness to the evolving needs of farmers across the country.

Kyle Larkin is the executive director of GGC.

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