TORONTO — Uber Technologies Inc. is revving up its Canadian operations with a new engineering hub in Toronto and the expansion of its self-driving vehicle centre in the city.

On Thursday, during his first visit to the city as Uber’s chief executive officer, Dara Khrosrowshahi announced the hub and expansion and said they will help the San Francisco-based tech giant build and update its infrastructure so it can continue to scale and offer more features and products to riders, drivers and cities.

“At Uber, we recognize Canada’s commitment to innovation and the vibrancy of Toronto’s tech ecosystem,” he said in a statement. “We want to support the innovation coming out of this great, diverse region.”

Khrosrowshahi and the company said the engineering hub — Uber’s eighth outside the U.S. — will be complete by early 2019 and will form the “building blocks” for stronger and faster global deployment of new offerings the company has been toying with like Jump bike and e-scooter rentals, public transit partnerships and Express Pool.

Uber has yet to announce plans to roll out Jump bike and e-scooter rentals in Canada, but Express Pool, which allows Uber customers to share a ride and the cost of the trip with other users travelling similar routes, will be arriving in the country soon, said Khrosrowshahi.

He also announced Uber will invest more than $200 million over the next five years on expanding its Advanced Technologies Group Research & Development Centre in Toronto, which has focused on self-driving vehicles since it opened in May 2017.

Uber’s self-driving vehicle efforts have been marred in controversy since March, when it paused testing of its autonomous cars in Toronto, San Francisco, Phoenix and Pittsburgh after a woman was struck and killed by one of the company’s self-driving vehicles in Tempe, Ariz.

The company decided to shut down the Arizona centre responsible for the fatal test in May, but said it was “doubling down” on its Toronto efforts.

Uber was testing self-driving vehicles in Toronto months prior to the incident, but the cars had not been picking up passengers.

“Building best-in-class self-driving technology will take time, and safety is our priority every step of the way,” the company said on Thursday in a release.

It credited Toronto’s self-driving centre with delivering “significant technical breakthroughs” and advancing the performance and capabilities of Uber’s autonomous fleet.

When the centre’s expansion and construction of the forthcoming engineering hub is complete, Uber said it will have over 500 employees in the city.

We’ve finally seen Meghan Markle’s wedding dress!

Kensington Palace confirmed this morning that British designer Clare Waight Keller is behind Markle’s stunning gown.

The palace noted that Waight Keller became the first female Artistic Director of the fashion house Givenchy last year.

We first got a glimpse of Markle in her wedding dress as she departed Cliveden House in a car with her mother, Doria Ragland, on their way to St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

According to the palace, the Queen lent Markle the Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara. The tiara was made in 1932, and the brooch in the middle dates to 1893.

“After meeting Ms. Waight Keller in early 2018, Ms. Markle chose to work with her for her timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour,” the palace said in a statement. “Ms. Markle also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who has now served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses — Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and now Givenchy.”

“Ms. Markle and Ms. Waight Keller worked closely together on the design. The dress epitomises a timeless minimal elegance referencing the codes of the iconic House of Givenchy and showcasing the expert craftsmanship of its world-renowned Parisian couture atelier founded in 1952.”

The pure white gown is made of bonded silk cady and features an open bateau neckline, three-quarter sleeves, and an underskirt in triple silk organza.

The five-metre long veil is made from silk tulle, with hand-embroidered flowers along the trim. Each flora represents a Commonwealth country — 53 in total. Canada is represented by the bunchberry.

“Each flower was worked flat, in three dimensions to create a unique and delicate design,” the palace noted. “The workers spent hundreds of hours meticulously sewing and washing their hands every thirty minutes to keep the tulle and threads pristine.”

“Ms. Markle wanted to express her gratitude for the opportunity to support the work of the Commonwealth by incorporating references to its members into the design of her wedding dress,” the palace said.

In the months leading up to the royal wedding, media outlets predicted a variety of potential designers who could take on the monumental task. Names thrown about included Ralph & Russo, who designed Markle’s engagement dress, Erdem, Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen.

According to reports, Markle’s BFF, Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney helped her pick out the gown and advised her on other aspects of the wedding, such as the flowers and decorations, according to The Telegraph.

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It’s also expected that Markle will change into a second outfit between the afternoon and evening receptions.

Earlier this month, Priyanka Chopra, one of Markle’s good friends, hinted that Markle got emotional when she chose her wedding dress.

When asked by Andy Cohen whether Markle cried when she found her gown, Chopra, who is attending the wedding, smile and buried her face in her hands, prompting Cohen to say, “Yes.”

As recreational marijuana legalization looms, some industry insiders are predicting a hot niche in the market for less potent products.

At the centre of the shift is an expected influx of new consumers more interested in dabbling than getting blitzed, creating demand for pot products with lower doses of psychoactive ingredients.

Newer recreational customers 35-54 years old

A report by Deloitte forecasts that legalization on Oct. 17 will bring a consumer into the market who is more risk averse, older and less likely to consume the drug as regularly as existing recreational users.

“Today’s consumer is what we describe as a risk taker. They’re young, typically with a high school or college education. In their quest to live life to the fullest, they’re more likely to put their health or safety at risk, even going so far as to skirt or break the law,” it says.

Newer recreational customers will typically be 35 to 54 years old, and three-quarters of them will have some experience with recreational pot but only 41 per cent will have used it in the last five years, it says.

“This consumer is more of a conservative experimenter — typically middle-aged, with a university or graduate school education. They don’t tend to put their personal interests before family needs or other responsibilities,” the report says.

It says almost half of current consumers say they would move to the legal market if there were more choices in terms of product potency.

Producers are paying attention.

Andrew Pollock, vice-president of marketing for The Green Organic Dutchman said many consumers are asking for products with higher concentrations of non-psychoactive cannabidiol, also know as CBD, rather than tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the main mind-altering ingredient in the plant.

“CBD is becoming kind of an ‘it’ word in cannabis. We see a real trend there,” Pollock said.

Watch: Cannabis compound may reduce psychotic symptoms. Story continues below.

CBD and THC are some of the most common compounds found in marijuana.

Plants with high CBD give more clear-headed relief to symptoms of anxiety, pain and inflammation. THC gives users a “high,” an appetite and relieves symptoms like pain and nausea, Pollock said.

“What we’re finding is more and more consumers are just looking for something to help them relax, to take away the stress, maybe to help them sleep. What most consumers are looking for in this day and age is calm,” he said.

The Green Organic Dutchman is building 130,000 square metres of cultivation facilities in Ontario, Quebec and Jamaica.

CBD, lower-dose THC products already popular

Ali Wasuk, store manager of WestCanna dispensary in Vancouver, says CBD products are already popular among the company’s medical clients, especially older users without recreational experience who are wary “getting high.”

“That crowd was the main one who kind of wanted to dabble, get their feet wet with the lower dose stuff,” he said. “Generally the medical side of it is mainly lower dose THC.”

South of the border, less potent products have already entered a market once dominated by black market pot that packed a punch.

“Products are now being scored and packaged and marked in low doses,” said Tom Adams, managing director of BDS Analytics in Colorado.

Part of that comes as a result of what industry members refer to as the “Maureen Dowd Effect,” he said. The New York Times columnist wrote a piece detailing her experience sampling a cannabis-infused chocolate from one of Colorado’s newly legal pot shops in 2014 that left her “curled in a hallucinatory state” for eight hours in her Denver hotel room.

Since then, the industry has made a concerted effort to cater lower-dose products to new users and emphasize responsible consumption, especially with edibles.

“The industry has very much harped on the theme of, ‘Start low, go slow,’ ” Adams said.

There are also regular users in the market who want to take some edge off without getting high.

“(They say) two milligrams or three milligrams just has a mild relaxing effect and doesn’t interfere with you going about your day,” Adams said.

The shift is occurring mostly at the processing level where the plants are used to create concentrates, oils, edibles and other products, he said.

Some companies are banking on recreational consumers having less fluency in dosages or chemical components and who are instead looking for an “experience.”

Adine Carter, chief marketing officer for High Park, based in a Nanaimo, B.C., said the company is highlighting its recreational products’ effects instead of its medicinal components.

In other words, you can buy “Sun” under its Irisa brand if you want energy or “Earth” for balance and focus.

“It’s a very different approach to product development than the medical products that are geared toward having the patient understand exactly what the potency is for their condition,” Carter said.

“We believe that telling them what the products are designed to do will resonate better with them as consumers.”

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TORONTO — Aimia Inc. says it remains open to negotiating a fair deal for the purchase of its Aeroplan loyalty program by Air Canada and its partners despite striking a deal with Toronto-based Porter Airlines and holding discussions with the Oneworld airline alliance.

“We never stop negotiating. Should the consortium want to engage with us in a constructive dialogue, we would be happy to entertain that,” Aimia CEO Jeremy Rabe said Friday during a conference call.

“At the same time, we feel very confident about our future plans. So either or, we’re happy to go down either path.”

Rabe insisted that Aimia didn’t reject the Air Canada group’s offer, but said it was very conditional and didn’t fairly value the business.

The future of Aeroplan, which has more than five million members, has been in doubt since Air Canada announced in May 2017 that it planned to launch its own loyalty rewards plan in 2020.

Under a new deal announced Friday, Toronto-based Porter would become a preferred Canadian airline for the Aeroplan loyalty points program as of July 2020, when the current arrangement with Air Canada ends.

The privately owned airline, which has its main hub on the Billy Bishop airport on one of the islands near Toronto’s downtown, currently serves Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and other Canadian cities from St. John’s, NL to Thunder Bay, Ont. as well as U.S. destinations including the New York City area, Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C..

“This is a unique opportunity for Porter to join a well-established travel loyalty program and, in the future, reach its vast member base to aggressively promote our airline,” said Michael Deluce, Porter’s chief commercial officer.

Under terms of the deal, Porter’s existing VIPorter loyalty points will be converted into Aeroplan miles.

Porter’s fleet of aircraft is only a fraction the size of Air Canada’s, but Aimia has also been in discussions with the Oneworld airline alliance, whose members include British Airways, American Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

Those partnerships would give Aeroplan members new options when the loyalty program’s current deal with Air Canada expires in 2020.

Aimia’s shares increased nearly 10 per cent to $3.80 in Friday morning trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

There remains a reasonable likelihood that Aimia will reach an agreement to be bought out by Air Canada given the high uncertainty in transitioning Aeroplan through 2020, said Drew McReynolds of RBC Capital Markets.

“We also believe the difference in the perceived value of Aeroplan among the parties is not overly material to the consortium yet meaningful to the value of Aimia,” he wrote in a report.

‘Making solid progress’

Shortly before announcing the Porter agreement, Aimia reported that spending on Aeroplan credit cards remained strong in the second quarter and the company is “making solid progress” on streamlining its business.

The Montreal-based company also announced that its continuing operations had a net profit of $11.1 million or four cents per share in the second quarter, with revenue up 3.9 per cent to $375.4 million.

That contrasted with a year-earlier net loss of $25.1 million or 22 cents per share from continuing operations, or 18 cents per share if discontinued operations were included, with $361.3 million in the second quarter of 2017.

It was barely nine months ago when Meghan Markle told Vanity Fair she’s “always loved [her] freckles,” so it should be no surprise that her beauty marks were proudly on display as she walked down the aisle to marry Prince Harry in Windsor, England on Saturday.

Her minimal, natural-looking makeup came courtesy of her longtime friend Daniel Martin and lasted throughout the ceremony at St. George’s Chapel, and the carriage procession in Windsor.

Martin, a brand ambassador for Dior and a creative colour consultant for Honest Beauty, has been applying Markle’s makeup in an on-and-off capacity for seven years. They first met back in 2011, at a New York City network presentation for her TV show, “Suits,” and they have been close ever since.

The two’s playful bond was made evident in an interview Martin did on Friday with ABC’s 20/20, where he shared that Markle had confirmed her relationship status with Prince Harry by using a “winky face emoji” text.

According to Martin, “She has the best memes.”

But it’s her glowing complexion, pink lips and subtle smoky eye that’s now forever immortalized in both photographs, and perhaps, emojis or memes. Markle highlighted her Cartier diamond earrings by keeping her hair pinned back in a low updo, with the Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara holding it all in place.

As for beauty, her eyes were a big focal point for Martin, who used a slate grey eyeshadow and black eyeliner to accentuate one of her best features, all while boosting her lashes.

Martin also coloured in her Audrey Hepburn-esque eyebrows. Markle sported some sheer foundation too, and a pale pink lip gave her that final bridal polish that was perfect for a May wedding.

This subtle and classic look went hand-in-hand with Markle’s regal and elegant Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy dress. And while Martin was responsible for creating Markle’s beauty vibe, he initially did not realize he was getting the call to be a formal part of her “I do” entourage.

“I was really flattered to know that I was going to be a guest at the wedding and to be able to share this incredible moment with her,” said Martin, on ABC’s 20/20. “I didn’t assume anything, [so] when I got the invitation, of course, I was flattered and so stoked.”

Of course, beyond his friendship with Markle, Martin has the experience to go along with the gig, having collaborated with famous faces including Elisabeth Moss, Rachel McAdams and Priyanka Chopra. His Instagram page also includes a berrylicious video of Markle from her pre-royal days.

Markle’s simple, sheer wedding look was the toast of social media, with one user writing, “Meghan showed what a no makeup makeup look is SUPPOSED to look like.”

Harper’s Bazaar reports that the list of makeup products that Martin used for Markle’s nuptials have not yet been released, but speculates that several Dior items, including Dior’s Backstage Face and Body Foundation, were used.

MONTREAL — On a recent episode of Quebec’s popular TV talk show, “Tout le monde en parle,” co-host Dany Turcotte asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau why he hadn’t heard of any significant Netflix investment in Quebec since a major announcement last year.

The U.S. streaming giant committed in September 2017 to investing $500 million over five years in Canadian-produced movies and television shows, in both English and French.

“It’s not happening fast,” Turcotte said to Trudeau about Netflix money in Quebec. “There is nothing happening.”

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The prime minister replied defensively: “On the contrary.” Netflix would invest “even more than they had initially planned to,” he promised.

Maybe Trudeau knew something about Netflix’s plans that Turcotte, a Quebec show-business veteran, didn’t.

But none of the Quebec-based production companies or unions representing actors, directors or writers contacted by The Canadian Press said they have heard of any French-language movie or television series in development by Netflix in the province.

Culture is a highly charged issue in Quebec — and it’s no surprise that alongside questions about cannabis legalization and Saudi arm sales the prime minister was put on the spot about Netflix.

Melanie Joly, the former heritage minister, lost her portfolio last summer following what was widely seen as a disastrous handling of the Netflix file.

Joly was savaged in the Quebec media for her government’s decision not to impose the federal Goods and Services Tax on Netflix or any other online-streaming company.

Netflix’s $500-million announcement was seen by cultural and political leaders in the province as a sop to the industry after the government exempted Netflix from tax requirements faced by other players in the industry.

It’s a question of equity, said Gilles Charland, director general of the union representing Quebec’s image and sound technicians.

“It’s not about adding a tax on people,” Charland said. “It’s about ensuring that whether you’re subscribed to Bell or Videotron or Shaw or Netflix, you pay a tax for using that product.”

The $500-million pledge was supposed to make up for the break given to Netflix, but more than one year after the announcement, francophone Quebec directors, writers and actors are still waiting for a big project.

“It’s very disappointing,” said Gabriel Pelletier, head of a union representing 700 film, television and web-based directors in Quebec.

“It takes time to develop projects,” he conceded, “but still, there should at least be some deals for developing something.”

English-language production making strides

On the English side, Netflix has made significant moves in Canada over the last year.

It recently renewed the show, “Travelers,” created by Canadian Brad Wright and shot in Vancouver. The company has other English-language movies and television shows in production across the country.

Montreal-based Muse Entertainment is currently in post-production on “Good Sam,” a US$5-million feature film for Netflix, scheduled to run on the company’s online platform in 2019.

Muse Vice-President, Jesse Prupas, said in an interview, “as a producer, I am very happy for this opportunity and it took me years to get it — I’m delighted.”

Netflix has yet to slate an original Quebecois movie or TV series

Netflix points to two recent projects involving francophone talent as evidence it has not ignored Quebec.

It bought the rights to the 2017 film, “Les affames,” scheduled to appear on the platform in 2019. And the company plans to record four francophone comedians during the next Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal as part of an international series featuring 47 comedians from around the world.

Writers, editors and actors see signs of goodwill from Netflix, but so far it is not funding any original Quebecois movie or television series.

In a statement to The Canadian Press, Netflix said, “we are always on the lookout for the best stories.”

The company said its $500-million commitment includes movies and television shows in both English and French, as well as an additional $25 million in market development.

“There is more to come,” the company said.

‘I think they will deliver, but I don’t know when’

Simon Ross, a spokesman for the Heritage Department, declined comment on the progress of Netflix investments but assured Quebec artists, “we have their back when it comes to protecting our culture.” He said the government “expects the company to make the investments stipulated under the Investment Canada Act in both official languages, and we are monitoring it.”

Last May, Netflix held a two-day series of meetings in Montreal during which it received numerous pitches. Helene Messier, head of an association that represents 150 independent Quebec production companies in film, television and online, attended one of the events in May.

“There were more than 1,000 ideas submitted to Netflix during those meetings,” Messier said in an interview. “I know it can take time to develop projects,” she added, “but I would have hoped that by now we would have at least been able to announce something.”

Messier said Netflix “created an expectation” in Quebec last year when it announced its investment, and she remains optimistic.

“I think they will deliver,” she said in an interview, “but I don’t know when.”