As a Torontonian, the problem with it has always been with both the data sovereignty and overall control by a non-Canadian entity. The problem of technology, foreign control, and what we give up is especially acute when someone like Jim Balsillie points it out in the wake of technological blowups like RIM and Nortel.
I especially didn't like the fact that the Sidewalk Labs employees were primarily New York-based with very little understanding or familiarity with the nuances of our city/province/country. Why are you remotely experimenting with our city instead of sending your teams here to develop it? Wouldn't familiarity with the surrounding neighbourhoods be an important factor in how you make a deep impact into the local environment?
Doctoroff managed to not address any of Balsillie's primary concerns. And I imagine most Americans are wilfully blind of the local issues when they come here. (Just look at how ownership of sports teams like the Montreal Expos turned out).
I especially didn't like the fact that the Sidewalk Labs employees were primarily New York-based with very little understanding or familiarity with the nuances of our city/province/country. Why are you remotely experimenting with our city instead of sending your teams here to develop it? Wouldn't familiarity with the surrounding neighbourhoods be an important factor in how you make a deep impact into the local environment?
Doctoroff managed to not address any of Balsillie's primary concerns. And I imagine most Americans are wilfully blind of the local issues when they come here. (Just look at how ownership of sports teams like the Montreal Expos turned out).