SALTZMAN: GM Canada takes the EV crown, Rogers Satellite goes live for all Canadians

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The momentum continues for General Motors of Canada and its electric vehicle (EV) lineup.

The Oshawa, Ont.-based automaker announced it has led the Canadian EV segment for three consecutive quarters, outselling every other EV — including those from Tesla.

The company’s EV market share almost tripled, in fact, rising to 23.2% in the second quarter of 2025, compared to the same period last year (at 8.1 per cent market share).

“Essentially, one in four EVs sold in Canada is now a GM brand — such as Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC — totaling 13 different EVs in the market,” confirms Shane Peever, vice president of sales, service and marketing at GM Canada, in a telephone interview.

Peever says its Chevrolet Equinox EV (starting at $48,433) is now the best-selling GM EV in Canada, and No. 2 across all EVs (behind Tesla Model Y). Offering up to 513 kilometers of range on a full charge, Equinox EV, a compact SUV, also features a 17.7-inch diagonal touchscreen display in the center console, an 11-inch diagonal driver display, and support for Super Cruise hands-free driving on select roadways (three-year trial included).

Cadillac EVs, including the LYRIQ and OPTIQ, are also selling well, says Peever, with “over 30 points of [market] share in the luxury market for EVs.” The Cadillac OPTIQ (from $63,433) is the second best-selling GM EV in Canada, behind Equinox.

While he agrees backlash against CEO Elon Musk has contributed to Tesla’s sales decline in the country — Musk tweeting that “Canada is not a real country” in February didn’t help the brand — Peever says GM’s vast EV line-up, including affordable options, also contributed to the company’s surge in EV sales. “And don’t forget, we became number one last year — before the anti-Musk sentiment,” Peever adds.

Rogers launches satellite-to-text service

While Canadians enjoy ubiquitous cellular service in major city centres, coverage is limited to only 18% of the country.

And so, it can be tricky — if not impossible — to get bars on your phone in remote areas, which could be problematic in emergency situations.

Until now.

Rogers has launched Rogers Satellite, a new service that lets those with a compatible smartphone — virtually any iPhone or Android device released over the past few years — to send text messages to any phone number (and 911) via low-earth orbit satellites.

Eventually, it will support voice calls and data, too, including apps.

Currently in beta, it’s open (and free) to all Canadians — not just Rogers customers. Interested parties can sign up at rogers.com/satellite. Once registered, your compatible phone will automatically connect in areas without cell service.

After the beta trial ends in October, Rogers Satellite will be included at no additional cost to customers on the Rogers Ultimate Plan and will continue to be available for all Canadians for $15/month (though beta participants will receive a $5/month discount for the first 12 months, says Rogers).

In April 2023, Rogers announced it was partnering with SpaceX and Lynk Global for its satellite-to-mobile service.

As the first wireless provider in Canada to offer this technology, Rogers says it now covers more than 5.4 million square kilometres.

South of the border, the three biggest telecom giants — Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T — have recently launched a similar service.

Google bows AI-powered ‘Flight Deals’

Especially given the Air Canada strike, Canadian travelers will be looking to all airlines for the best bargains.

An efficient way to pull this off may be the just-launched Flight Deals, an AI-powered search tool within Google Flights, designed to quickly find affordable flights.

Rolling out in English over the next week — in Canada, the U.S. and India, to start — simply describe when, where and how you’d like to travel, and Flight Deals will do the rest.

“Using Google’s advanced AI models, Flight Deals understand the nuances of what you’re looking for, and finds the best bargains for you, including destinations you may not have considered, pulling from hundreds of airlines and booking sites,” Google states in a company blog post.

For example, search for something like “5-day trip to a scenic Atlantic Canadian city this October” or “7-day non-stop Toronto to Louisville for bourbon tour.” You’ll see results that match your query, perhaps from hundreds of airlines and booking sites, and maybe destinations you haven’t previously considered.

Flight Deals is available on both mobile and desktop, via web browser.

Norton report reveals kids at risk

Norton, a leading cybersecurity brand, has released its 2025 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report: Connected Kids, revealing concerning trends tied to children’s digital safety.

The global study shows that one in eight kids experience “cyberbullying” — and keep in mind that’s according to parents aware of it, which isn’t always the case. In the U.S., that number jumps to one in four respondents (24%). Parents said most of this harassment took place on social media – primarily though Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook – and 39 percent of perpetrators identified as classmates or peers.

A related concern, 41% of children are turning to AI for emotional support.

Also used for schoolwork and creativity, nearly half (48 per cent) currently using ChatGPT and 30%use Google Gemini (globally).

While 86 per cent of parents attempt to manage screen time, 56% of children find ways to circumvent these controls. Nearly one in three (29%) of children find ways around screen time limits and tell their parents about it, while another 23% bypass controls without disclosure, and parents discover these workarounds independently.

As for addressing these cybersecurity concerns, Norton suggests the following:

Effective online safety isn’t about restrictions — it’s about preparation and communication, starting early, with “judgment-free” spaces for discussing online experiences.

Regular check-ins work better than crisis-driven conversations.

Implementing layered protection, but technological tools should complement, not replace, family conversations. Consider scam detection and antivirus software, age-appropriate content filters. Norton has several solutions for parents.

Stay current by following reputable digital safety organizations, joining parent groups focused on technology, and asking children about new platforms and trends they like using.

– Based in Toronto, Marc Saltzman is the host of the Tech It Out podcast and the author of the book, Apple Watch For Dummies (Wiley).

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