CUPE is concerned federal consultations to update Canada’s strategy on artificial intelligence were rushed and favoured corporate interests at the expense of other voices.

In a letter to Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon, our union warns that the short timelines, lack of taskforce representation and corporate-heavy consultation mean the updated strategy likely won’t address workers’ needs and protect the public interest.

In October, the federal government held a consultation and struck a taskforce on an updated Canadian AI strategy.

Although the government appointed a representative from CUPE to the AI Strategy Taskforce, they excluded many other groups and experts including unions, civil society organizations, and researchers on AI and work, AI governance, privacy, and human rights.

CUPE is calling for the consultation to be extended and broadened to ensure a more representative and fair process.

CUPE’s submission to the consultation makes recommendations in five key areas:

Develop comprehensive laws and regulations

The federal government should mandate:

  • transparency when AI systems are introduced in the workplace
  • restrictions and safeguards when bosses use algorithms to manage workers
  • strong data protection and privacy laws that protect workers’ dignity and autonomy.

Invest in public AI infrastructure

The federal government should invest in public AI technology including cloud infrastructure, data management and AI models and applications.

Public ownership promotes accountability and transparency and advances the public interest. It also strengthens Canada’s digital sovereignty, which is our ability to control the digital infrastructure, services and data that affect democracy, the economy and society.

Consult widely and support research

The federal government should make it a priority to consult unions, academic researchers, civil society and other affected groups.

The government should also create an observatory on work and AI, and sector-based groups that assess AI’s impacts on jobs, public services, bias and discrimination, and privacy.   

Invest in education, training and a strong social safety net

The federal government should invest in digital literacy education for workers and the public, as well as in training and retraining for public sector workers using AI.

The federal government should also strengthen social safety net supports like Employment Insurance for workers who will be displaced because of AI.

Protect our energy system and the environment

The federal government should manage data centre growth to ensure the security and sustainability of our energy system, and to meet Canada’s climate change goals.

We must make sure the benefits of technological change are shared with workers and the public. This will only happen if governments across Canada, starting with the federal government, put in place guardrails to minimize potential harms from digital technology like AI.