From smart to smarter cities – transforming Canada’s urban landscape

Canadian cities are at a pivotal moment, evolving beyond basic “smart” solutions towards integrated, sustainable strategies that address challenges from resource efficiency to community engagement. KPMG’s From Smart to Smarter Cities report highlights how Canadian leaders can embrace data-driven approaches and citizen-focused urban planning to reshape their cities.

Citizen feedback was reported as the primary motivator for digital transformation efforts by 48% of public sector leaders and this approach will become crucial as Canadian cities move to deliver services that meet evolving community expectations. The report goes on to show that cities are better equipped to deliver high-quality services, efficiently allocate resources, and align urban development with sustainability goals when they prioritize data integration.

Eric Wolfe, KPMG Canada’s National Cities Leader, emphasizes the need for Canadian cities to focus on sustainable, long-term investments to maximize their social and environmental returns: “With limited financial resources, Canadian cities must ensure every investment maximizes social and environmental returns. Data integration enables city leaders to make impactful, informed decisions.” Wolfe emphasizes the critical role that transparent governance and cross-sector collaboration plays in achieving these goals.

Canadian cities can also adopt advanced tools like digital twins to improve resource management and reduce their environmental impact. Cities like Ithaca, New York have utilized digital twins and achieved nearly a 50% reduction in emissions further adding weight to the impact of real-time data on urban planning and sustainability. These tools allow city leaders to simulate scenarios, predict outcomes, and make informed decisions that maximize positive impact while balancing social and environmental needs.

Eric Wolfe, KPMG Canada’s National Cities Leader, emphasizes the need for Canadian cities to focus on sustainable, long-term investments to maximize their social and environmental returns. Canadian cities can further ensure that their investments not only drive efficiency but also align with broader community priorities by fostering private and public sector collaboration and adopting strong governance structures. Wolfe states that transparent governance and strategic investments will be essential as Canadian cities transition toward smarter, more inclusive urban environments.

Explore the full report to see how Canadian cities can lead the way in urban sustainability and innovation.