A recent report from the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project has labeled Canada's cloud computing market as 'broken,' primarily due to the overwhelming dominance of U.S. companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, which control approximately 85% of the market. The report emphasizes that merely introducing Canadian cloud providers will not resolve the issue of high switching costs that keep customers locked into their current providers. Curtis McCord, a policy analyst and co-author of the report, warns that without regulations ensuring compatibility among cloud services, Canadians may face 'maplewashed dependencies' on U.S. firms. The report advocates for the establishment of international standards to facilitate interoperability between different cloud services, which could enhance competition and lessen reliance on a few dominant players. Additionally, the report highlights the potential implications of concentrated cloud control on access to artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, stressing the importance of compatibility to foster a more competitive environment. Joel Blit, an economics professor, cautions that high market concentration poses risks to innovation and competition.