Fixing the things we own has never been more difficult. From smartphones and laptops to tractors, wheelchairs, and home appliances, repair has become more costly, inconvenient, and in many cases, impossible. The growing barriers to repair are contributing to what some have called the “Great Canadian Breakdown.”
The consequences of this problem ripple across society. Repair is a matter of affordability: fixing what we have costs less than buying new, keeps money in our communities, and supports local economies. It is also a matter of sustainability: extending the lifespan of our devices reduces waste and curbs the extractive and carbon-intensive impacts of manufacturing. And it is a matter of human values: repair fosters care, self-determination, skill development, and stronger communities.
Yet in Canada, repair faces powerful obstacles. Manufacturers increasingly design products to frustrate repair, employ contractual restrictions that limit consumer choice, and use digital locks and proprietary tools to monopolize repair markets. These practices undermine consumer autonomy while driving waste and overconsumption.
Repair is not only good for the economy and environment — it strengthens our communities and helps us build a more resilient, livable, and humane future.
Starling’s Role in the Movement
At the Starling Centre, we are proud to play a leading role in advancing the Canadian Right to Repair. Our co-director, Dr. Alissa Centivany, has been at the forefront of this work nationally. As a co-founder of CanRepair with Dr. Anthony Rosborough, she has helped bring together researchers, industry stakeholders, policymakers, and grassroots advocates to coordinate efforts and push for meaningful reform. Her scholarship and advocacy have also informed landmark policy interventions, including testimony before Parliament in support of Canada’s first federal repair legislation.
In October 2025, the Starling Centre co-hosted the Canadian Repair Convention at the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre in London, Ontario. This event convened industry experts, academics, and policymakers from across the country to chart a path forward for repair in Canada. It marked a significant milestone in building the networks, knowledge, and momentum needed to tackle the systemic barriers that stand in the way of repair.
Building a More Repairable Future
The Canadian Right to Repair movement has already achieved important wins, including recent copyright reforms that allow consumers and independent technicians to bypass digital locks to repair devices. Provinces such as Quebec have taken legislative action against planned obsolescence, and more efforts are underway across the country.
But the work is far from finished. At Starling, we see repair not only as an economic or environmental issue, but as an ethical imperative. Every act of repair resists a culture of disposability and points toward a more just, sustainable, and humane society.
Through research, advocacy, and convening, the Starling Centre is helping to ensure that Canada’s future is one where repair is possible, accessible, and valued.
Related Links:
Centivany, A. (2025), “Legal and Commercial Barriers to Repair in Canada,” G20 Environmental and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) webinar on Right to Repair, hosted by South Africa (G20 presidency), United Nations, and Germany.
Centivany, A. (2024), testimony before the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Commerce, and the Economy (BANC), on Bill C-244: An Act to Amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance, and repair), and Bill C-294: An Act to Amend the Copyright Act (interoperability).
Centivany, A. (2025), testimony before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry & Technology (INDU), on Bill C-294: An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability).
Centivany, A. (2025), testimony before the House of Commons, Standing Committee on Industry & Technology (INDU), on Bill C-244: An Act to Amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance, and repair).
