Candiac, Quebec will be the first in Canada to introduce autonomous electric shuttle
The city has announced a project to make their public transport 100 per cent electric autonomous shuttle on roads, stated in a press release. In September, the first shuttles will begin to take riders for free between a park-and-ride lot and André-J.Côté Park. The shuttle system will also carry out a test during winter for handling ice and snow.
Please see ICTC previous commentary on autonomous vehicles in the Financial Post & the Francopress.
Sidewalk Labs release more plans for Toronto waterfront development
The smart-city company has published more details about their design of the near-futuristic neighbourhood in Toronto, reported by The Star. Dwellers can expect features from wooden skyscrapers, buildings’ raincoat, to heated pavements, and everything in between.
When asked about the project’s data collection policy by Betakit, Waterfront Toronto’s vice president of innovation, sustainability and prosperity Kristina Verner said: “It’s just a different venue, but that conversation is still going to be happening very soon.”
Cybersecurity Centre to be established in Fredericton
On Thursday, Betakit reported Federal and NB government is investing $3.31 million to a Cybersecurity Innovation Centre. Fredericton is becoming a hub for cybersecurity investment. In May, Siemens also announced a plan for a cybersecurity centre with Opportunities NB support funding of $3.6 million.
Privacy concerns over user location data storage
The Associated Press (AP) released an exclusive piece in which they detailed how some Google apps store some users’ location data without asking. If users open Google Maps, access weather updates from Android devices, or simply use the search engine on phones, Google has the location data stored. The company has sent AP a statement, saying they were clear on providing descriptions of the tools. Google allows extensive control over those tools and users can turn it off or delete their data at any time.
Job loss by tech is “greatly exaggerated”
A Globe and Mail opinion piece by Andrew Jackson, a Carleton professor and Broadbent Institute policy adviser called out many pundits on exaggerating the changing rates of employment caused by rapid technological advancement. Some cited statistics: The national unemployment rate: 5.8 per cent in July, same as October 2007. National employment rate: 61.6 per cent in July, down from 63.7 per cent in February 2008.
The piece also stated that shrinking job opportunities among young people ages 15 to 24, reflecting increased fulltime education rate.
“It is true that full-time, permanent employment has fallen compared to a generation ago, and that many workers in supposedly “permanent” jobs feel insecure with good reason, but changes in the form of employment since the Great Recession have been exaggerated to a degree.”
For more data on Canadian digital economy and employment, check out ICTC’s Talent Dividend – Shifting Gears in Changing Economy paper.