The municipality of the future will be radically redefined by
current transformative technologies, including AI, robotics, IoT,
smart infrastructure, open data systems, and autonomous and
electric vehicles. One of the most pressing issues facing any city
is how much the future will be shaped by the companies driving the
technology, and how much by the municipalities themselves through
planning and adoption frameworks.
Canadian municipalities of all sizes are in the nascent phase of a
complex and potentially confusing journey toward the "smart
city." As municipalities pilot and deploy connected
infrastructure projects in partnership with technology
providers/partners, they will face new challenges that current
policy and legal frameworks are not yet fully equipped to address.
These include implementation logistics, obligations regarding
cybersecurity and the use of citizens' data, contractual
arrangements between municipalities and technology
providers/partners, and how municipalities will manage associated
risks and liabilities.
To better understand the legal frameworks that will need to be put
in place to address the municipality of the future, we assembled a
round table of experts from a few of the larger Canadian
municipalities, technology providers and other organizations whose
mandates directly address these areas. The result is a dynamic
three-part conversation that examines what it takes to progress
from pilots to a well-regulated vision of the complete smart
city.
Change is coming, but who will be in the driver's
seat?
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