Canadian Legislative News

Over more than two years, the Senate Committee on Transport and Communications heard from dozens of expert witnesses and has published a report on self-driving cars that could lay the groundwork for what a future Canadian autonomous vehicle regulatory framework could look like.

The report, Driving Change: Technology and the Future of the Automated Vehicle, considers nearly every aspect of life that stands to be impacted from the proliferation of driverless vehicles.

Could driverless cars solve the problem of urban congestion? Many advocates would claim so, as powerful algorithms and cars which communicate with one another combine to alleviate traffic issues. Some advise caution. The adoption of autonomous vehicles could create an entirely new type of traffic: empty vehicles returning to far-flung suburban parking complexes.

Employment also featured prominently in the discussions, as automation is seen as a threat to millions of well-paying driving jobs in cities and elsewhere.While the history of technological innovation is often one of job displacement, there remains a general trend towards ever-greater employment despite the possible elimination of job positions deemed obsolete.

The report offers intriguing insights for anyone interested in the exciting developments in the world of autonomous vehicles. While specifics of the future remain uncertain, governments will have to exercise caution between spurring innovation in the autonomous vehicle sector and ensuring safety and employment transition for those directly impacted in the years and decades to come.

The report, Driving Change: Technology and the Future of the Automated Vehicle, is available for download here.