Canada must regulate AI right, not first
OpenMedia works to keep the Internet open, affordable, and surveillance-free. We create community-driven campaigns to engage, educate, and empower people to safeguard the Internet.
See more about what’s happening about AI in Canada in the sources! Plus d’infos sur ce qui se passe concernant l’IA au Canada dans les sources de cet article.
Last year, we told the Canadian government they needed to get AI regulation RIGHT, not rush a band-aid set of regulations through.1 Now, the new Liberal government is charging ahead with a very different vision. One that focuses on nothing but economic growth and AI industry expansion, with barely a nod to public transparency, fairness, or your rights.2 And they’re not even asking what you think first. That’s why we launched a national community survey on AI earlier this week, and we need your help to amplify it more than ever!
At OpenMedia, we’ve spent years fighting to make sure Canada’s laws keep up with technology, and put people first. You might remember Bill C-27, which aimed to regulate AI and modernize our privacy laws. We pushed hard to improve it. But when Parliament dissolved earlier this year, that bill died on the table.3
The government has an AI agenda for sure. They’ve appointed Canada’s first-ever Minister of AI, Evan Solomon. His mandate? “Unlocking economic potential.” Not privacy. Not ethics. Not protecting people. And while they’ve pledged nearly $100 million toward AI industry projects, they’ve set aside nothing to consult the public.4
Currently, we’re collecting community input until August 25, and we’re using it to make sure your voice shapes the future of AI in Canada. Your responses will be:
✅ Delivered word-for-word to Minister Evan Solomon,
✅ Used to guide our formal submission to the Canada-EU digital trade agreement consultation and future AI policy work,5
✅ And shared back with you and the public, to keep this conversation honest, transparent, and grounded in people’s values.
But gathering input is just the start. We need resources to analyze the results, craft strong policy recommendations, fight for them in Parliament, and push back when industry lobbyists try to silence your voice! Getting AI right is going to be a long fight, and we need you with each every step of the way.
Thank you for all you do.
Jenna at OpenMedia
Sources
- Canada must regulate AI right, not first – OpenMedia
- Canada’s first AI Minister Evan Solomon on his plan to scale up the industry – The Globe and Mail
- Digital laws in limbo: What’s at stake after Parliament’s shake-up in 2025 – OpenMedia
- AI Minister Evan Solomon Announces AI Adoption Funding – CPAC
- Share your views: Consulting Canadians on a possible Canada-European Union Digital Trade Agreement – Government of Canada
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