WhistleOut fast facts
- Canada may join the European Union in mandating common chargers for personal devices, according to the newly released 2023 federal budget.
- The government’s goal is to reduce electronic waste and lower costs for consumers in Canada and implement a standard charging port.
- The government endorsed the right to repair and will introduce a framework for electronics and appliances in 2024.
- The budget also reports the government’s intention to crack down on junk fees for Canadians, including telecom roaming charges.
The newly released 2023 federal budget includes a plan to make life affordable for the middle class by targeting telecom companies. The Canadian government is focusing on plans to implement “a standard charging port in Canada,” cut junk fees (including telecom roaming charges), and support Canadians’ right to repair their own devices.
In the budget, the government reasons that the right to repair and a standard charging port will help Canadians save money while protecting the environment. (Last year, our friends at WhistleOut US looked at how cell phones contribute to e-waste.)
Meanwhile, the other big telecom plan in the budget concerns junk fees, including roaming charges. Roaming charges from the major providers have already increased by a couple of dollars this year. The government has released policies and law amendments to protect Canadians from hidden costs, which could be strengthened in the next year through this budget.
No concrete plans are outlined in the budget for standard chargers or the right to repair, but the government has earmarked these projects to support Canadians and reduce the cost of living.
Could creating a common charger help?
Canadians have several cords in their house to connect to every electronic device, from phones to computers to cameras. A standard charger would reduce the headache of finding the proper charger for each device.
“Every time Canadians purchase new devices, they need to buy new chargers to go along with them, which drives up costs and increases electronic waste,” reads the budget.
The federal government will work with international partners and stakeholders to explore a standard charging port in Canada. So far, only the European Union has fully mandated a universal charging port. All handheld devices and laptops in the E.U. must use a USB-C charging port by the end of 2024.
However, the budget does not say how much money the government will allocate to this process. Companies may pass additional costs for manufacturing a standard charger on to the consumer or charge extra for the common charger.
What is the ‘right to repair’?
The other major plan in the government’s budget is the right to repair electronic devices and home appliances. This would make it easier for people to fix products instead of being forced to replace them.
Pushing Canadians to “buy new products rather than repairing the ones they have… [is] expensive for people and creates harmful waste,” the budget reads.
The 2023 budget is the government’s first announcement on ensuring citizens’ a right to repair. A targeted framework is expected in 2024 for home appliances and electronics.
The main goal of the federal government budget around products and electronic devices is to reduce cost and waste.
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