Information & Ethics Committee on Feb. 21st, 2019

[André Leduc]

The 5G technology is the next generation of telecommunications technology. We need it to share data.

Our current networks won't be able to manage the volume of data generated by all the sensors that will be found everywhere, in smart cities, on roads, in automated cars, and so on. We'll need 5G technology to share data on the network.

In addition, we find that 5G technology provides opportunities in application design and that it will provide good innovations.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

You've opened the door to smart highways. We can see that, in the future, cars will have more and more sensors that position cars in relation to obstacles and other cars. This may become a very large market. How will this ensure data security for all Canadians?

This doesn't mean that every car will be equipped with all the technology. Some Canadians keep their cars for a very long time, regardless of whether the cars are vintage, and they will still use the highways.

[André Leduc]

As Meg Davis said, the data will often be anonymous. Sometimes, the licence plate number will be recorded. There are different ways to do so. In terms of regulations, it won't be any different from the way that we collect information today. It will often depend on who owns the cars and trucks that will be automated on the roads, and on how information will be shared and exchanged. Basically, the information between cars and trucks and between those vehicles and infrastructure must be shared to ensure that the car network can operate.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Are several members of your association working on these future endeavours on an ongoing basis? This market may be relatively profitable in the future.

[André Leduc]

Indeed. There's no doubt about that. We have quite a few members working on developing 5G technology, and other members working on developing software for automated cars.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

It's the world of tomorrow.

From a financial standpoint, does technology force more change than Canadians want? Could the technology move faster than Canadians want in different sectors or in all sectors?

[André Leduc]

No. I would say that it's often the other way around. The consumers of products and technological solutions drive suppliers to develop innovations to meet the demand of consumers, therefore citizens.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Canadians, and North Americans in general, are keen on new technology. The market exists because, according to the cost-benefit analysis, it's always profitable to carry out research and to innovate. This seems true.

[André Leduc]

When it comes to the adoption of smart technology, according to the United Nations, Canada is behind South Korea and Australia. In terms of the adoption of new technology by our citizens, we're ranked third in the world.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

In other words, regarding the speed...

Is it finished, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Zimmer]

You're out of time. Thank you, Mr. Gourde.

I believe there are going to be some members splitting time again.

Next up, we have Ms. Vandenbeld for five minutes.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

I'd like to give my time to Mr. Vaughan, please.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

There is no governance data structure—

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Zimmer]

Yes, Mr. Angus.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Chair, for a government that says they're not running at the highest level, I think it should be on the record that they have their parliamentary secretary at the table, which is not how it's supposed to be done. The parliamentary secretary can be an observer.

I think that should be on the record.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

If I could just note that I'm giving the time to the person who's the local MP in the area that we're discussing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Zimmer]

Yes. I don't believe there's a point of order, but fair enough.

Go ahead, Mr. Vaughan.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

I appreciate that the NDP doesn't want the local member of Parliament to talk about the issues in his riding, but I will not be silenced by that.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Good one.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

The issue that I think is important to the waterfront, as someone who has been both a city councillor and now the federal member, as well as a resident and someone who's lived all his life in the downtown core, is that Waterfront Toronto enjoys a reputation for extensive, effective and very well-attended public consultation on all of its projects.

[Meg Davis]

That's correct. It's a hallmark of Waterfront Toronto.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

In fact, it's held up in Toronto as hosting the most public of all consultations, and it often makes significant changes to those projects based on the way in which public presentation has an impact, and how everyone, from the BIA to the port authority to the local residents associations, speaks up.

[Meg Davis]

That's correct.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

On the issue of the data governance plan, does the City of Toronto have a current framework that governs the collection of data through infrastructure such as the Presto card, or the library card, or the way in which people call 311 and dial in through Facebook, and whether their information is shared publicly? Does the city have a data governance and a data sharing and data collection governance plan that currently regulates how data is embedded in infrastructure?