Decoder.ca

Canadian Tech in 100 Words

AI Replaces Entry Level Jobs, Grads Struggle to Start

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As AI tools like ChatGPT increasingly handle tasks once assigned to interns and junior staff, university graduates are finding it harder to break into the job market. Business consultants, recruiters, and university officials say entry-level roles—long seen as critical stepping stones—are disappearing as employers automate basic tasks.

The result is a growing barrier to career development for young workers. Statistics Canada reports youth unemployment hit 20.1% in May, up from 11.4% two years ago. Meanwhile, LinkedIn data shows global hiring for AI talent surged 30% from fall 2023 to 2024, giving tech-savvy job seekers a major advantage.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The Logic.

Vancouver Firm Pioneers Greener Metal Recovery

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Vancouver-based pH7 Technologies reports a milestone: over 250 tonnes of end-of-life materials have been processed at its local facility, yielding more than 3,000 troy ounces of platinum-equivalent metals. The firm’s proprietary closed-loop hydrometallurgical platform—eschewing traditional smelting—operates with minimal emissions and zero liquid waste.

Founder Mohammad Doostmohammadi calls the results proof of commercial viability and environmental advantage. The system handles complex feedstocks once discarded or exported. With 1,200 tonnes annual capacity, pH7 eyes expansion to 25,000 tonnes by 2028. Talks are underway with global partners across automotive, electronics, and cleantech sectors.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Techcouver.

AI Use Doubles in Canadian Firms: StatCan

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AI adoption among Canadian businesses has doubled year-over-year, with 12.2% of firms reporting use of the technology in the year leading to Q2 2025, according to a Statistics Canada study released Monday. The rise from 6.1% in 2024 marks a significant shift, though uptake remains concentrated in knowledge-based industries like information and culture, finance, and professional services.

Businesses most commonly employed AI for text and data analysis, with a quarter using AI agents or chatbots. While promising, experts caution Canada must accelerate broader AI integration to counter weak productivity and avoid falling behind globally.

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Internet Archive Canada Shields Data from U.S. Deletions

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As the Trump administration erases critical web content, Internet Archive Canada has become vital to preserving global digital heritage. With servers in Vancouver and Victoria, the nonprofit backs up U.S. and Canadian internet history, safeguarding data like NOAA climate records now under threat.

Founded in 2006, Internet Archive Canada expanded with physical servers in 2022, providing sovereign, decentralized storage. Executive director Andrea Mills oversees a team of 30, preserving everything from scientific datasets to government websites. “Lots of copies keep stuff safe,” said founder Brewster Kahle, who warned that U.S.-Canada cooperation can’t be taken for granted.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The Logic.

Shopify Adds USDC Payments for Global Merchants

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Shopify will now allow merchants to accept USDC, a leading stablecoin, through partnerships with Coinbase and Stripe. CEO Tobi Lütke announced the update at Coinbase’s conference in New York, highlighting USDC’s growing role in digital commerce.

The feature, built on Coinbase’s Base network and integrated into Shop Pay and Shopify Payments, ensures merchants can receive local currency with no FX fees. Early access has begun, with a broader rollout planned. Stablecoins like USDC, designed for low volatility, are gaining traction in global payments. Shopify’s move reflects its continued embrace of crypto and decentralized finance in e-commerce.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Fintech.ca.

VC Veteran Backs Startups Powering Net-Zero Future

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As decarbonization accelerates, critical minerals have become essential to national security and climate strategy. TDK Ventures President Nicolas Sauvage told CleanEnergy.ca that battery-grade lithium, cobalt, and rare earths are now “strategic infrastructure” for the net-zero economy.

Sauvage said TDK spotted early supply chain risks and backed startups like Ascend Elements and pH7 Technologies to secure domestic recovery and sustainable extraction. He emphasized that the best innovations now reshape—not just support—material supply chains. Sauvage encourages founders in this space to build for resilience, collaborate broadly, and recognize their role in reshaping how clean technologies are sourced and scaled.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on CleanEnergy.ca.

Calgary Startups Shine at Global Energy Show

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At the 2025 Global Energy Show Canada, held June 10–12 in Calgary, local firms took top honours for energy innovation. RevSolz won Disruptive Digital Innovator for its FracSol platform, while Carbonova claimed Emerging Clean Technologies and Emerging Leader for CEO Dr. Mina Zarabian.

Scovan earned Innovation in Equipment or Process Controls for HipVap, Remote Power won Powering the Future, and the University of Calgary took Excellence in Energy Research for nanomaterial breakthroughs. These awards highlight Calgary’s rising influence in clean and digital energy, reinforcing its role as a national hub for next-gen energy innovation.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Calgary.tech.

Quebec Ends Starlink Subsidy, Cites Fibre Priority

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The Quebec government will end its $130-million, three-year agreement with Starlink on June 15, ceasing subsidies for rural internet access via Elon Musk’s satellite service. While users will retain access, they’ll lose $40 monthly subsidies and free receivers.

Signed in 2022 under Opération haute vitesse, the deal helped connect 10,000 “orphan households” too remote for fibre. Quebec now reports full province-wide coverage, with 369,000 homes connected. Despite the shift, some courthouses will still use Starlink. Officials say Quebec will prioritize fibre and “connectivity sovereignty” as Ottawa-backed alternatives like Telesat remain years away from launch.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on The Logic.

Rare Earth Recycling Centre Coming to Ontario

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Toronto-based cleantech firm Cyclic Materials will invest $34 million to open North America’s first Centre of Excellence for rare earth recycling in Kingston, Ontario. Scheduled for early 2026, the 140,000-square-foot facility will combine full-scale commercial processing and advanced R&D.

The site will produce recycled rare earth oxide from 500 tonnes of magnet-rich feedstock annually using Cyclic’s proprietary REEPure℠ technology. CEO Ahmad Ghahreman says the centre will anchor the company’s commercial future. The project is expected to create 45 skilled jobs and is backed by partnerships with Solvay, Glencore, and several national innovation programs.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on CleanEnergy.ca.

Calgary Tech Valued at $6.7B in 2025 Report

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Calgary has been named an “Emerging Ecosystem to Watch” in Startup Genome’s 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report. The city’s startup ecosystem is now valued at $6.7 billion, up 13% since 2023. Calgary ranks among North America’s Top 30 ecosystems and the Top 50 globally, recognized for affordability and return on investment.

With strong support from Calgary Economic Development, Platform Calgary, and the University of Calgary, the city has become a resilient tech hub. Its Innovation Strategy aims to create 187,000 jobs and contribute $28 billion to the economy by 2034.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Calgary.tech.