Your question contains many parts.
It has maybe been difficult to make data available because of the approach that has been used up until now, which has been more or less successful.
Currently, data is released on a somewhat discretionary basis. There has maybe also been a lack of understanding about ownership of the data. Those in charge of the various municipal services are automatically deemed the owners of this data and it is at their discretion that data is released or not. Therefore there is, generally speaking, resistance. There is also a lack of consistency from one service to the other in terms of which data is released.
Of course we are thinking about an approach that would involve a model for others to follow. Take, for example, the American model which, besides being open by default, also includes an action plan. Under the American model, each department, each agency must, within a specific period of time, release a specific number of datasets from the accumulated legacy data. Furthermore, the expression "by default" implies that data within future systems will have to be what is called open data.
In terms of the quality of the data, there have been many discussions on what is open data and how it should be defined. I think we should be referring back to the charter signed by the G8 countries, of which Canada is a member. There are certain characteristics that define open data. Open data must be complete, primary or raw, timely, accessible, machine-readable, non-discriminatory, commonly owned, free of licensing restrictions, permanent, and available at little or no cost. When those characteristics are met you have true open data. Those qualities should also be true of any government initiative on open data programs. It is not enough to provide raw data; that data has to meet the criteria that I have just listed for them to be truly open.
You asked if the city will realize savings. That is not the current purpose. The main concern or goal of the current administration is that of transparency, for all kinds of reasons, including recent events. The city must be very open and agree to releasing all data as well as information on its own administration.
The data that is most frequently consulted deals with daily life. I am referring here to city websites on sports, recreation, parks and cultural events. We recently organized a programming marathon with the cities of Quebec and Sherbrooke on the events occurring in our respective areas. That is the kind of data that is of particular interest to citizens and that is downloaded.
Other kinds of data that are used deal with transportation, traffic lights, bus schedules and other similar kinds of information.
Could you please remind me what your other questions were?