Item - 2018.EX30.12

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council approve the Open Data Master Plan set out in Attachment 1 to the report (January 10, 2018) from the Deputy City Manager, Internal Corporate Services, and the Chief Information Officer.

2. City Council request the Chief Information Officer, in collaboration with the City Solicitor and the Interim Chief Financial Officer, review the steps required to ensure the publishing of Open Data will protect the City's commercially confidential and proprietary interests and report to the Executive Committee on the approach no later than June 19, 2018.

As directed by City Council at its meeting on April 26, 2017, this report recommends the adoption of an Open Data Master Plan 2018-2022 for the City of Toronto. It also provides an update on the progress of the Open Data program, including the development of a new Open Data Portal.

When government data is made open to the public, new ideas and perspectives unlock the potential for it to be re-used, analyzed, and correlated to help improve the City’s delivery of public services, engagement with citizens in government decision making, and innovation in our approaches to civic problem solving. A stable foundation and substantial investment in open data is a key to the success of strategic initiatives like Smart Cities, Civic Innovation, and Open Government.

Open Data Master Plan

The Open Data Master Plan provides a strategic framework and roadmap for the City to advance Toronto’s vision for open data until 2022. The plan will enable the City to grow as a leader in open data through effective governance, alignment to the International Open Data Charter, open source development and a move to coproduction. It provides visibility into how open data helps meet the needs of Torontonians and how the City plans to unlock its potential. The plan also shows how, and when, the community can best align with the City to leverage open data.

The Open Data Master Plan identifies the resources and digital infrastructure needed to effectively grow and advance the Open Data program. Leveraging current and industry standard technologies that ensure a positive user experience and easy access to quality open data are core to the plan. Increasing the quality, speed and efficiency of open data production is key for creating value through open data, as is showcasing successes and sharing insights. Fundamental to the Open Data Master Plan is building a foundation for enhancing the ability to address civic issues through increased collaboration and partnership.

Four principles guided the creation of the Open Data Master Plan: co-develop with the public; release datasets that help solve civic issues; explore opportunities to improve City efficiency; and embrace inclusivity. These principles were co-developed with the community, supported by Executive Committee and Council through the April 2017 status report, and helped steward the approach to stakeholder consultations.

City staff engaged 125 stakeholders, through 20 meetings in the creation of the Open Data Master Plan. The consultations were inclusive, highly interactive and with long reach. Internal stakeholders (e.g. Chief Transformation Office, Chief Resiliency Office, Civic Innovation Office, Divisions and Agencies), external stakeholders (e.g. Academia, Business, Start-ups, Civic Tech, Province of Ontario) and the Public participated in workshops, meetings, surveys, and webinars. Staff also procured an internationally recognized Canadian not-for-profit organization (OpenNorth) to provide support and coordination services in the external and internal consultation process and documentation of the Open Data Master Plan and Roadmap.

Open Data Program Update

Since 2009, the City has consistently published on average 25 to 30 datasets per year and currently has a total of 258 datasets and over 1,100 datafiles available. 33 new open datasets were published in 2017, alongside 57 updates to current open datasets, and 67 new datasets being prepared for release. The Open Data Master Plan identifies that efficiencies in the publication process will be realized and as such more data will become available with a further emphasis on data quality and relevance to help solve civic issues.

Creation of a New Open Data Portal

The City's first Open Data website was launched in the fall of 2009 and has gone through several iterative improvements. Increased demand for open data and growing expectations for a broader set of functionality, to make open data more accessible to the general public, have necessitated a redesign effort for the current website.

A new Open Data Portal was developed through: Internal, external and public consultation; design thinking and user-centric framework; focus on accessibility and AODA compliance; and socializing initial designs through soft-launches of early prototypes. The new Open Data Portal is expected to launch in Q1 2018 through a phased approach.

The full Open Data Master Plan can be found in Attachment 1.