Data is widely called the currency of the digital economy—but who really controls it?

In this episode, we examine the evolving policy and market implications of data portability in Canada, grounded in the Competition Bureau Canada’s report Your Data, Your Control.

We discuss how giving consumers greater control over their data could improve market competition, enhance consumer choice, spark innovation, and potentially generate significant economic and time savings.

The discussion addresses what a practical data portability framework looks like by solving for behavioural barriers, privacy concerns, and the technical realities of interoperability, secure data transfer, and system design.

We also assess international models and what they reveal about feasible pathways for implementation in Canada, and considers sector-specific implications, including banking and insurance.