Alberta proposes lemon law, right-to-repair legislation

The Alberta government has introduced legislation that would establish lemon law protections for consumers and create a right-to-repair framework covering vehicles, agricultural equipment, electronics and household appliances.

Bill 34, the Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, would give consumers a pathway to seek refunds, replacements or other remedies for vehicles with serious defects that cannot be repaired. The proposed lemon law would apply to vehicles within the first three years of purchase or up to 60,000 kilometres if significant repair problems persist.

The legislation would also require manufacturers to provide access to parts, tools and repair information needed to service products, including vehicles. The government said the changes are intended to give owners more options for repairs, reduce dependence on manufacturers and help avoid costly delays.

“Whether you’re buying a vehicle, fixing something you own, protecting your credit or buying tickets to your favourite events, you deserve to know you’re protected if something goes wrong,” said Dale Nally, minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction.

The government said detailed requirements and product categories covered under the right-to-repair provisions would be established through regulation.