Looking for Canadian alternatives to U.S. tech? It’s not easy, experts say
As the world reacted over recent days to Google Maps changing the name of Lake Ontario, MapQuest made a social media post that quickly drew praise and has seen downloads surge.
The recent decision by Google Maps to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America" in accordance with U.S. President Donald Trump's push has sparked controversy. In response, American mapping app MapQuest defended the lake's name, and the app's downloads surged. MapQuest's CEO Doug Berger stated that the decision to keep the lake's name has resonated with Canadians, who form a significant portion of their customer base.
However, experts warn that while switching from Google Maps to MapQuest is relatively easy, replacing other essential U.S. tech services can be much more challenging, given the heavy reliance on American firms. Emily Osborne, a policy researcher at the Canadian Shield Institute, explains that many areas depend on American companies for essential services, such as cloud infrastructure, making it difficult to switch.
While some Canadian alternatives exist, such as Canadian platforms for groceries and ride-sharing, most U.S. tech services are deeply ingrained in daily life, making it difficult for Canadians to switch. The Canadian tech market shows limited alternatives, with some Canadian companies trying to compete with American giants like Uber and Lyft.
However, big U.S. firms often offer bundles and suites of software that can make it cost-ineffective for Canadians to switch. Despite the limited Canadian alternatives, the "Buy Canadian" movement presents an opportunity for growth, as Canadians increasingly seek domestic solutions.
Written by urgent.news from Global News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
