Quebec tables bill to adopt universal charging standard for smartphones
The days of missing the right charger for your cellphone could be a thing of the past in Quebec.
A new bill tabled in the provincial legislature Thursday aims to amend the Consumer Protection Act to require universal charging for devices like smartphones and tablets.
According to Bill 29, An Act to protect consumers from planned obsolescence and to promote the durability, repairability and maintenance of goods, would give Quebec the "regulatory power to determine technical or manufacturing standards for goods, including standards for interoperability between goods and chargers."
Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette introduced the bill.
The federal government already has its eyes set on a similar law. Tucked into the March 2023 budget, the Liberal government announced plans to implement a standard charging port across Canada in order to save Canadians money and reduce electronic waste.
Last year, the European Parliament passed a law to force Apple and other cellphone manufacturers to adopt the USB-C charging standard, which is already used by many Android devices around the world. The new EU law will take effect on Dec. 28, 2024.
PROTECTIONS FOR CAR OWNERS
Bill 29 has several other provisions aimed at preventing what the government calls "planned obsolescence" or, in other words, devices breaking down right after their warranties expire. If a company is found to be taking part in the practice, it could face sanctions under the Quebec law, if it is passed.
Minister Jolin-Barrette said he wants Quebec "to be a leader" in the consumer protection field by introducing its own law, as other U.S. states have already done.
Marwah Rizqy, the Quebec Liberal Party's consumer protection critic, said she spoke with Jolin-Barrette about the bill and supports it.
"He said, 'It's a very good bill you introduced. Do you mind if I put my name on it?' I said, 'Go ahead, I have no ego' because we need the bill," she said in a press scrum Thursday.
"Consumers are tired and exhausted of paying [for] their dryer and washer, more than $4,000, and after four years, right after the warranty is over — oh, it doesn't work."
Bill 29 also brings in anti-lemon laws for cars owners. It will require manufacturers to provide a car's data and repair history for free. The proposed legislation would also mandate consumers who purchase a vehicle to be entitled to an inspection free of charge before the end of the lease.
The bill would force manufacturers to repair certain goods at "a reasonable price" to avoid having the consumer discard them all together.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing hundreds of people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn't had to play all that much tennis to do it.