The very first “lemon law” passed in Canada now makes Les Québécois the best-protected consumers in the country, or even North America. Indeed, compared to lemon laws in the United States, the first “anti-lemon” law adopted on Canadian soil is particularly generous.
Starting with the toughest sanctions first, Quebec’s new regulation states that, after three unsuccessful repair attempts in three years or 60,000 kilometres (whichever comes first), buyers of new vehicles struggling with what seems to be a “citron” can now apply to the courts to have the sale cancelled, the price reduced, or the vehicle repurchased by the manufacturer.
This provision against “seriously defective vehicles,” as the Quebec government calls them, has been in force since October 5, 2023, and is part of a vast package of measures “against programmed obsolescence and promoting the durability, repairability, and maintenance of goods.” The legislation was passed unanimously and in less than three months(!) by the Quebec National Assembly.
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George Iny, President of the Automobile Protection Association (APA), is delighted. And if, like us, you’ve known this great defender of motorists’ rights for a while, you’ll know he doesn’t rejoice very often. “This is revolutionary for the consumer arena. You only see advances like this every 20 or 30 years!” Iny told us rather enthusiastically in a telephone interview. “It puts Quebec in a unique position in North America.”