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Digital Policy Salon: Wildfire-Fighting Technologies and Other News

Digital Policy Salon
Digital Policy Salon: Wildfire-Fighting Technologies and Other News
By ICTC-CTIC • Issue #65 • View online
Welcome to the 65th issue of the Digital Policy Salon newsletter.
We’re excited to announce the release of new research on Québec’s growing Electric Vehicle (EV) industry. The study examines the sector and relevant labour market needs in the province. For a detailed overview of the work, join ICTC and Propulsion Québec at the in-person launch event in Montreal on May 27. This week’s issue also highlights a new interview article on a Canadian organization that researches wildfire-fighting technologies, while our policy updates cover a new international collaboration to monitor quantum technologies as well as local updates.
Last but not least, check out our open job opportunities at the bottom of the newsletter, and get in touch with us to ask any questions about this publication or working with ICTC.
- Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC)

Policy Updates 🇨🇦
Government of Canada continues to announce policy changes aimed at improving economic immigration streams
In May, this included an announcement about expanding settlement services across the prairies, a move which will help regionalize immigration of skilled workers. In addition, in April 2022, the Government announced its intention to offer an extended open work permit for international students, among other initiatives.
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) lists first ‘made-in Canada’ sustainability changemakers
SDTC has announced a list of its inaugural Canada’s Sustainability Changemakers. The distinction will be awarded annually to portfolio companies that are leaders in sustainable technologies across the country. The Changemakers for 2022 are: Anaergia (ON), CarbonCure Technologies (NS), Enerkem (QC), Hifi (AB), KEY DH Technologies (ON), NanoXplore (QC), RecycleSmart (BC), Saltworks (BC), Semios (BC), and Vive Crop Protection (ON).
Venture capital slows down after the record-breaking two-year run during the pandemic
In 2021, $14.2 billion in venture capital investments were made in Canada, a surge that is now seeing a decline. High interest rates, inflation, and the invasion of Ukraine have caused economic uncertainty leading to a more conservative venture capital sector.
Countries meet to discuss international cooperation for quantum technologies
On May 5th, the White House led a conversation with representatives from Canada, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK on the importance of international cooperation for quantum information technologies. At the meeting, the group discussed principles of openness, transparency, equity, objectivity, and affirming democratic principles. The White House also published its National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Quantum Computing, which lists the benefits and risks of quantum information sciences. The NSM also calls for continued engagement and cooperation among international partners.
- Mansharn Toor
Research and Analysis
Recharging Quebec’s Transportation Sector
By Alexandra Cutean, Robert Davidson, Maya Watson, Bingjie Xiao, Edward Hale, Melissa Felder, and Matthias Oschinski
Digitization, coupled with a focus on transitioning to a low-carbon future, inevitably means a shift in operations and outputs across sectors. Over the years, Québec has become a significant player in the Canadian electric vehicle industry, and recent advances also point to the province’s ability to compete internationally. Yet, with industry change comes workforce evolution and changing labour market realities and needs. This report reviews some of the labour dynamics associated with Québec’s emerging electric vehicle (EV) industry and identifies current and future labour demand and skill needs. Although some employment displacement is likely to occur, this shift will be offset by new jobs created by the growth of this industry, and further focus on sustainability and a “green transition.” At the same time, many existing workers will also see skill shifts, leading to the need for workforce development solutions, training, reskilling, and upskilling.
Read the full report here 📖
www.digitalthinktankictc.com  •  Share
Interviews in the Field
Green Tech: Fighting Wildfires with Innovation - Digital Think Tank by ICTC
By Maya Watson
Last summer, record-breaking heat waves were accompanied by often devastating wildfires that swept across Canada’s communities and forests. More than 1600 fires burned nearly 8700 square kilometres of land last year in British Columbia alone. In Ontario, forest fires burned 8000 square kilometres of land in 2021, more than in any other year on record. These fires endanger human lives and cause significant damage to forests and wildlife. As the risk of hot, dry, wildfire-fuelling weather continues to grow along with global temperatures, finding effective responses to these fires is essential.
To manage wildfires, more and more agencies are turning to technological solutions. AI-powered maps that predict the trajectory of fires and drones to increase situational awareness and safety for firefighters are just two of many technologies being leveraged to help fight wildfires.
Based in Edmonton, Alberta, FPInnovations’ Wildfire Operations Research project helps address current issues in wildfire management thorough applied research. Among other activities, including how to build community resilience to wildfires, their research team helps determine which emerging technologies can help Canadian organizations improve their wildfire management and response techniques.
Maya: What factors contribute to declining forest health and bad wildfire seasons like 2021 or 2016?
Michael: There are a lot of factors that contribute to bad wildfire seasons like the one we experienced over this past year in British Columbia and much of western Canada. Unfortunately, human activity has been contributing to much of it. For example, we’ve been very effective in suppressing (extinguishing) fires over the last 100 years. Although these techniques were well-intentioned, this high-suppression approach has run counter to natural disturbance patterns, where forests would burn on regular cycles. Without human suppression interventions, forest fires are more frequent, but lower intensity because the buildup of forest fuels would not be as pronounced.
Specifically, this natural regime results in the creation of what’s called “mosaics” on the landscape: various patches of forest that have burned at different times. With mosaics, there would have been natural firebreaks or places that had burned recently and as a result have little fuel buildup and do not burn with such intensity. These firebreaks would reduce the size of some of the fires and reduce the negative impacts of their high-intensity burning due to considerable fuel buildup, and reduce total area impacted.
Our suppression practices over the last century have contributed to having more homogenous stands of a forest with considerably more buildup of fuels (and consequently, less naturally occurring mosaics). This makes it far more difficult to manage wildfires since they burn with a higher intensity and their impacts are far more pronounced. It should be noted that the approach of achieving low-intensity fires through a high frequency of fire events was common among North American indigenous groups prior to European colonization.
Read the full interview here 🎙
www.digitalthinktankictc.com  •  Share
Special Events
Join Us in Montreal
​Québec has emerged as a significant player in the Canadian electric vehicle (EV) industry, with expanding ability to compete internationally. As a result, new jobs and skills will be needed, including workforce development solutions, training, reskilling, and upskilling.
​ICTC welcomes you to join us on May 27th for the in-person public release of our Recharging Québec’s Transport Sector report. At this event, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with experts and industry leaders to learn more about the electrification of Québec’s transportation sector.
​This event will provide:
  • ​​An overview of the ICTC and Propulsion Québec study “Recharging Quebec’s Transport Sector report”
  • ​​An understanding of key industry verticals and their talent and skill needs,
  • ​​A discussion on strategies to secure a strong future for Québec’s electrified transportation sector, including building a robust talent pipeline that matches growing employment demand
  • ​Blocked time for networking post-panel discussion
Reserve your place today 🗓
lu.ma  •  Share
What We're Reading
Ask an Environmental Expert: What’s the Carbon Footprint of the Internet?
Ask an Environmental Expert: What’s the Carbon Footprint of the Internet?
Our digital habits are worse for the environment than flying. That toll is expected to grow.
thewalrus.ca  •  Share
How the metaverse could change the purpose and feel of cities
How the metaverse could change the purpose and feel of cities
New virtual realities are changing the way we interact with our urban spaces. How will the metaverse make some urban amenities redundant and others indispensable?
theconversation.com  •  Share
Immigrant entrepreneurs struggle to get funding. Some investors see that as an opportunity
Immigrant entrepreneurs struggle to get funding. Some investors see that as an opportunity
Potasz co-founded InMotion, a company with products that include Car Scanner, a robot that uses cameras and sensors to evaluate and document a car’s condition for car-rental and fleet-management companies.
financialpost.com  •  Share
ICTC Career Opportunities
The vast majority of ICTC roles can be performed remotely. Consider applying even if you are not in the municipality listed.
Talk to Us 💬
We welcome your feedback! Click here to share your thoughts and recommendations.
The Digital Policy Salon newsletter is produced by Tyler Farmer, Mairead Matthews, Faun Rice, Mansharn Toor, and Maya Watson.
airtable.com  •  Share
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