Transport Committee on Feb. 16th, 2017

[Kevin Miller]

To answer your questions in the reverse order, a smart charging station is one that is connected. ChargePoint has data on every one of the 21.5 million charges that have ever been delivered on our network. We understand charging behaviour and can use that data to inform our decisions to help shape and incentivize transportation behaviours.

It's also possible to create price signals to drive charging behaviour to take place at times during the day that are most beneficial to the grid. You can use that data and take advantage of that data, and the site host, which could be a private entity or a public entity, can empower other agencies to gain access to that data. It's an open process.

A smart, intelligent, connected network station is one that leverages the power of the data and creates opportunities to apply widespread benefits.

Yes, a small percentage of charging takes place in public, but it is a critical percentage. Long-distance travel needs to be facilitated. Corridor charging through higher-powered charging infrastructure is key. ChargePoint recently announced, at the consumer electronic show in January, a scalable infrastructure that can grow over time as battery size in vehicles increases—

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

I'll stop you there because I don't have much time.

Are the climate problems solved? Isn't the Canadian winter a problem for you?

[Kevin Miller]

We are rated by Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada to operate in cold temperatures. We also have retractable cord technology to keep the cords off the ground. Also, then, as the wireless charging technology increases to make that faster, it will no longer be a problem.

In the deserts of Arizona or the far reaches of Quebec's furthest north, it's not a problem.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you.

My next question is for Ms. Hamm.

I imagine that if I'd responded to your survey and asked myself whether I wanted my city to be smarter, I would have probably answered yes like most people.

Does the survey enable you to dig deeper and tell us whether people's understanding or expectations of a smart city align with their needs? Are people talking about the same thing when they say they want their city to be smart?

[Vicki-May Hamm]

A few years ago, people didn't really have a concept of a smart city. As far as I know, the CROP poll helped confirm that people now understand the concept.

I provided the transportation example earlier because the sector came up often in the poll. People also mentioned other needs, such as security, infrastructure, real-time information and the chance to give their opinions. People not only want to be informed, they also want to participate in decision making.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

This leads me to my next question.

The criteria you presented as self-diagnostic tools included residents, governance, the environment, the economy and open data. With regard to open data, the principle is well understood. However, in any of the municipalities in the Union des municipalités du Québec, is a new form of governance for smart cities really being tested?

[Vicki-May Hamm]

Do you mean as a result of open data?

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

I think these are two different concepts. Open data implies that people can find data online to get a sense of a certain subject. However, governance involves the relationship between people and their municipality or government. Are there experiences along this line, such as a new way to consult people or make decisions?

[Vicki-May Hamm]

Yes.

There aren't any in Magog at this time, but some municipalities have participatory budget concepts. People participate in developing part of a budget. They must then submit projects to the council. It's true, and you're absolutely right. These are two different concepts. Open data goes well beyond providing information to people. The goal is to provide real-time information using all the existing tools. The data also enables businesses to use the tools, to innovate and to create jobs and wealth in our area.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you.

Mr. Hutchison, you said that Canada could take advantage of being behind by learning from the experiences of the countries currently ahead of us. If you have one or two mistakes to point out, mistakes that shouldn't be made in the coming years, what would they be?

[Bill Hutchison]

In terms of mistakes, I don't think you want to be too prescriptive. For example, India is now trying to create a hundred smart cities, and of course they are sometimes masters of bureaucracy. They have tried to manage this thing centrally and have created one czar for smart cities, an absolute standard, and all the rest of it. That's not working too well.

We all know that our cities are all different. They have different capabilities and different goals. Some have more tourism goals, and some have other goals. I think that's important. When the government created the CANARIE initiative, I was the chair of it, but it was a federal government program. They really were a facilitator, but we created a public/private sector committee to oversee everything and then—

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

I'm sorry, Mr. Hutchinson.

Maybe you could get that point in with another questioner.

Mr. Iacono.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I want to thank the witnesses for being here today.

My question is for Ms. Hamm.

Do all municipalities in the country need to become smart cities? If not, do major cities in particular need to become smart?

[Vicki-May Hamm]

I think this applies to all municipalities in the country. When I give conferences, I often say that a city doesn't become smart overnight. It needs to move in that direction. As I said earlier, we need to start with our DNA and use technology to do a better job. This concerns all municipalities.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thank you.

Earlier you briefly mentioned the help you received from the federal government. My question is as follows.

What role should the federal government play to help municipalities that want to become smart cities?

[Vicki-May Hamm]

As I told Mr. Rayes, digital coverage and open data are important. Obviously, it would be very good if programs could help, support and encourage cities. It would also be good if all the levels of government could set an example by getting on board.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thank you.

I have another question to ask you.

Before making a major investment in smart infrastructure, should the federal government establish a national strategy so that investments target the sectors where the benefits in terms of cost, sustainability and effectiveness are the most guaranteed?

[Vicki-May Hamm]

That's a good question, but I can't answer it. I would need to do some investigating.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

You can send us your answer in writing. We would be pleased to receive it.

[Vicki-May Hamm]

Okay. That's fine.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thank you.

I want to ask Mr. Miller a question now.

You were talking about charging stations with respect to data. I'm curious to know how you address the privacy issue that is linked to the collection of vast amounts of data.

[Kevin Miller]

For any data, as I mentioned in my comments, privacy policies should be revisited consistently to make sure they are meeting the needs of the public. Anonymizing data to ensure that personal information is not released while still being able to take advantage of insights gleaned from charging-use driver behaviour is critical to ensure that transportation policies you implement at a municipal level create value for planning and scalable and sustainable growth.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Have you received any challenge from anybody whose data has been collected? Has this topic ever been of concern to the American people?

[Kevin Miller]

I think data privacy is always an issue to be concerned about to make sure that we're doing our best as industry to protect data. Participating in providing personal information is not required to use our stations. In sharing that information, again, it creates the opportunity to glean insights and to be able to secure take-aways and create policies that leverage the value of understanding widespread driving patterns.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Mr. Hutchison, do you have any comments on the privacy question?