Skip Navigation
Canada

Canadian Open Data Exchange (ODX) (CA0032)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Canada, Second Action Plan, 2014-2016

Action Plan Cycle: 2014

Status: Inactive

Institutions

Lead Institution: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Support Institution(s): NA

Policy Areas

Capacity Building, Open Data

IRM Review

IRM Report: Canada End-of-Term Report 2014-2016

Starred: No

Early Results: Did Not Change

Design i

Verifiable: Yes

Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information Technology

Potential Impact:

Implementation i

Completion:

Description

The Government of Canada will establish an open data institute to support collaboration with the private sector, civil society, academia, and other levels of government to
promote the commercialization of open data.

IRM End of Term Status Summary

Commitment 3. Canadian Open Data Exchange

Commitment Text:

The Government of Canada will establish an open data institute to support collaboration with the private sector, civil society, academia, and other levels of government to promote the commercialization of open data.

The global movement of technology and social media is generating massive amounts of information. Capitalizing on data offers $1.3 trillion in possible economic development in North America alone (McKinsey & Company: 'Open data: Unlocking innovation and performance with liquid information'). This type of opportunity is leading public sector institutions in Canada at all levels to undertake open data initiatives. In response to the tremendous commercial opportunity represented by open data, the Government of Canada has announced an investment of $3 million over three years to launch a new institute on open data: the Canadian Open Data Exchange (ODX).

While governments collect much of the world's data, they do not always share it in ways that support ease of discoverability, access, use, or understanding by the public. Today, citizens expect to be able to access information and services electronically when and how they choose to do so. The creation of an information economy has motivated government to release vast amounts of public data, but there remain real challenges to accessing that data in a way that can generate insights, ideas, and services to truly benefit society.

ODX will work with governments, the private sector, civil society, and academia to help realize the full potential of open data for the economic and social benefit of Canada. ODX will bring together all of the pieces that support a sustainable, market-driven, open -data ecosystem whose success is measured by commercialization outcomes, such as the creation of jobs, companies, and wealth.

The vision for ODX is that by creating a platform and toolsets to help commercial actors use available data, new products and companies may be launched to meet market needs, social challenges will be addressed to improve the quality of life for Canadians, and, above all, new jobs will be created.

ODX will develop industry standards for open data, build a national marketplace where commercialization of open data can flourish, and support a pan-Canadian open data innovation community that will help incubate the next generation of data-driven companies. Through ODX, Canadians will be able to see the measurable economic benefits of open data in the form of job creation, investment in data-driven companies, and the establishment of a national hub for the commercialization of open data.

Deliverables to be completed in 2014-16:

  • Establish an open data institute in Canada (the Canadian Open Data Exchange, or ODX), as a national marketplace that includes an online community for those engaged in the commercialization of open data. ODX will undertake the following in collaboration with governments, civil society organizations, and private industry:
    • Developing new tools and applications that access and manipulate government data;
    • Establishing a framework for open data standards, including the articulation of industry standards for presenting, and providing access to open data for key sectors;
    • Consulting with industry champions on the development of demonstration projects for the commercialization of open data in priority sectors;
    • Launching a national outreach program, including events, workshops, hackathons, and student contest opportunities nationwide; and
    • Incubating new data-driven companies.

Responsible institution: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Supporting institution(s): None

Start date: November 2014  End date: 30 June 2016

Commitment Aim:

This commitment aims to establish an open data institute to support collaboration with the private sector, civil society, academia, and other levels of government to promote the commercialization of open data. Companies should be able to turn to the institute for understanding, designing, and deploying open data-oriented products and services. The ODX would be a place for the collaborative development of new tools and applications to access and manipulate government data, to establish a framework for open data standards, and for consulting with industry champions on demonstration projects commercializing open data in priority sectors. It would launch a national outreach program and incubate new data-driven companies.

STATUS

Mid-term: Substantial

The Open Data Exchange (ODX) was launched in May 2015. The lead institution for the commitment announced that CND$3 million would be provided to Communitech Corporation to establish the exchange. At the time of the mid-term report, the ODX was in its infancy, with its first demonstration project scheduled for November 2015. Interviewees for the mid-term report noted that the ODX deliverables should be completed by March 2018, putting the anticipated completion date for this commitment outside of the timeframe covered by the second national action plan.

End of term: Limited

The IRM researcher coded this commitment as ‘substantially complete’ in the mid term progress report. Officials from agency responsible for this commitment were unable to provide the IRM researcher with an update in the requested timeframe for inclusion in this report.  Personal correspondence with IRM Researcher September 6, 2016.  That said, there is some evidence of progress change during the reporting period.  The ODX announced that it was signing onto the Open Data Global Network in March 2016.  ODX, ‘ODX Joins Open Data Global Network with Canada’s Open Data 150 Project,’ http://codx.ca/odx-joins-open-data-global-network-with-canadas-open-data-150-project/  During the latter part of the second national action plan, companies were surveyed and data was collected for the project.   ODX, ‘OD150: First out of the Gate,’ http://codx.ca/od150-first-out-of-the-gate/  Given that there is no concrete evidence that the commitment has been completed in its entirety, it remains coded as ‘substantially’ complete.

Did it open government?

Access to information: Did not change

There is insufficient evidence to determine that the ODX led to either fundamental improvement or negative effect on government openness. Results of the effort that has gone into the establishment of the ODX remain to be seen.

Carried forward?

This commitment was carried over to the third action plan. Commitment 15 of the new action plan is titled ‘Stimulate Innovation Through Canada’s Open Data Exchange.’ The milestones map over those found in the second action plan and include:
 

  • Complete a comprehensive mapping of 150 Canadian companies that are using open data to launch new products and services, create commercial and non-profit ventures, optimize their business processes, conduct research, and/or make data-driven decisions.
  • Launch an online platform at www.opendata500.com/ca to showcase Canada’s Open Data 150.
  • Establish a national network of open data users within industry to collaborate on the development of standards and practices in support of data commercialization.
  • Collaborate with private industry on three demonstration projects to illustrate the commercialization potential of open data in priority sectors.
  • Incubate 15 new data-driven companies by June 2018.  Canada’s Third Biennial Plan to the Open Government Partnership 2016 – 2018, http://www.opengovpartnership.org/sites/default/files/Canada_AP3.pdf  

Canada's Commitments

  1. User-friendly open government

    CA0064, 2018, Capacity Building

  2. Financial transparency and accountability

    CA0065, 2018, E-Government

  3. Corporate transparency

    CA0066, 2018, Beneficial Ownership

  4. Digital government and services

    CA0067, 2018, Capacity Building

  5. Open science

    CA0068, 2018, Capacity Building

  6. Healthy democracy

    CA0069, 2018, Civic Space

  7. Access to Information

    CA0070, 2018, Capacity Building

  8. Feminist and inclusive dialogue

    CA0071, 2018, Capacity Building

  9. Reconciliation and open government

    CA0072, 2018, Capacity Building

  10. Open government community

    CA0073, 2018, Capacity Building

  11. Enhance Access to Information

    CA0042, 2016, Legislation & Regulation

  12. Streamline Requests for Personal Information

    CA0043, 2016, E-Government

  13. Expand and Improve Open Data

    CA0044, 2016, E-Government

  14. Provide and Preserve Open Information

    CA0045, 2016, E-Government

  15. Define an Approach for Measuring Open Government Performance

    CA0046, 2016, Capacity Building

  16. Develop Open Government Skills across the Federal Public Service

    CA0047, 2016, Capacity Building

  17. Embed Transparency Requirements in the Federal Service Strategy

    CA0048, 2016, Capacity Building

  18. Enhance Access to Culture & Heritage Collections

    CA0049, 2016, Capacity Building

  19. Enhance Openness of Information on Government Spending and Procurement

    CA0050, 2016, Capacity Building

  20. Increase Transparency of Budget and Other Department of Finance Information

    CA0051, 2016, Capacity Building

  21. Starred commitment Increase Transparency of Grants and Contributions Funding

    CA0052, 2016, Capacity Building

  22. Improve Public Information on Canadian Corporations

    CA0053, 2016, E-Government

  23. Increase the Availability and Usability of Geospatial Data

    CA0054, 2016, Capacity Building

  24. Increase Openness of Federal Science Activities (Open Science)

    CA0055, 2016, Capacity Building

  25. Stimulate Innovation through Canada’s Open Data Exchange (ODX)

    CA0056, 2016, E-Government

  26. Align Open Data across Canada (Open Data Canada)

    CA0057, 2016, Capacity Building

  27. Implement the Extractives Sector Transparency Measures Act

    CA0058, 2016, Capacity Building

  28. Support Openness and Transparency Initiatives around the World

    CA0059, 2016, Aid

  29. Engage Civil Society on Open Government

    CA0060, 2016, Public Participation

  30. Enable Open Dialogue and Open Policy Making

    CA0061, 2016, Capacity Building

  31. Promote Open Government Globally

    CA0062, 2016, Capacity Building

  32. Engage Canadians to Improve Key Canada Revenue Agency Services

    CA0063, 2016, Civic Space

  33. Implement Directive on Open Government

    CA0030, 2014, Open Data

  34. Starred commitment Open Data Canada

    CA0031, 2014, Open Data

  35. Canadian Open Data Exchange (ODX)

    CA0032, 2014, Capacity Building

  36. Open Data for Development

    CA0033, 2014, Capacity Building

  37. Open Data Core Commitment

    CA0034, 2014, Open Data

  38. Starred commitment Open Science

    CA0035, 2014, Science & Technology

  39. Starred commitment Mandatory Reporting on Extractives

    CA0036, 2014, Extractive Industries

  40. Open Contracting

    CA0037, 2014, Open Contracting and Procurement

  41. Open Information on Budgets and Expenditures

    CA0038, 2014, Fiscal Transparency

  42. Digital Literacy

    CA0039, 2014, Capacity Building

  43. Open Information Core Commitment

    CA0040, 2014, Right to Information

  44. Consulting Canadians

    CA0041, 2014, Marginalized Communities

  45. Starred commitment International Aid Transparency Initiative: Publish plan to make CIDA activities available and accessible

    CA0010, 2012, Aid

  46. International Aid Transparency Initiative: Implement plan

    CA0011, 2012, Aid

  47. Opening Government of Canada Records: Increase access to archived federal documents at Library and Archives Canada

    CA0012, 2012, Records Management

  48. Opening Government of Canada Records: Issue new mandatory policy on document classification

    CA0013, 2012, Records Management

  49. Opening Government of Canada Records: Make classified information available online

    CA0014, 2012, E-Government

  50. GCDOCS: Deploy wave one of electronic record and document management solution

    CA0015, 2012, E-Government

  51. GCDOCS: Deploy across federal government

    CA0016, 2012, E-Government

  52. GCWEB: Develop consolidated web presence

    CA0017, 2012, E-Government

  53. GCWEB: Implement new platform

    CA0018, 2012, E-Government

  54. Data.gc.ca: Expand number of datasets available

    CA0019, 2012, E-Government

  55. Data.gc.ca: Implement data.gc.ca portal

    CA0020, 2012, E-Government

  56. Data.gc.ca: Improve standardization of data

    CA0021, 2012, E-Government

  57. Government of Canada Resource Management Data: Publish resource management and performance data

    CA0022, 2012, E-Government

  58. Government of Canada Resource Management Data: Enhance search and data tools

    CA0023, 2012, E-Government

  59. Consulting Canadians: Develop new platform for consultation

    CA0024, 2012, E-Government

  60. Consulting Canadians: Develop standard approach to use of social media

    CA0025, 2012, E-Government

  61. Consulting Canadians: Pilot a crowdsourcing initiative

    CA0026, 2012, E-Government

  62. Consulting Canadians: Enable use of common online tools

    CA0027, 2012, E-Government

  63. Open Regulation: Federal regulators to post forward regulatory plans

    CA0028, 2012, Legislation & Regulation

  64. Open Regulation: Simplify engagement activities

    CA0029, 2012, Legislation & Regulation

  65. Open Government Directive: Issue Directive on Open Government

    CA0001, 2012, E-Government

  66. Open Government Directive: Implement Directive on Open Government

    CA0002, 2012, E-Government

  67. Starred commitment Open Government Licence: Issue Open Government Licence

    CA0003, 2012, Legislation & Regulation

  68. Starred commitment Open Government Licence: Adopt Open Government Licence

    CA0004, 2012, Records Management

  69. Modernising Administration of Access to Information: Pilot of online request and payment service

    CA0005, 2012, Fiscal Transparency

  70. Modernising Administration of Access to Information: Implement ATI Solution

    CA0006, 2012, Fiscal Transparency

  71. Modernising Administration of Access to Information: Make completed ATI request summaries searchable

    CA0007, 2012, Right to Information

  72. Virtual Library: Begin design of virtual library

    CA0008, 2012, E-Government

  73. Virtual Library: Launch virtual library

    CA0009, 2012, E-Government