Public consultation on AI transparency launched by Government of Canada
OTTAWA — On July 23, the Government of Canada announced a public consultation for citizens to provide input on artificial intelligence systems.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) says the consultation focuses on how people can know when they are interacting with AI, and how AI-generated content can be identified. The department sought public opinion on what information organizations should provide about the systems they develop and use, as well as the risks and limitations of AI. The findings will be used to inform research and policy around AI at the national level.
ISED asked citizens to read its discussion paper, “Enhancing trust in artificial intelligence through increased transparency,” before completing a survey about AI transparency, risks, and limitations.
The department said submissions will be treated as public documents and may be posted online. Participants are asked not to include personal or confidential information in their submissions. Canadians have until Sept. 23 to submit their responses. The initiative came after the federal government released “Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: AI for All,” in June.
The 50-page document has six main pillars: protecting Canadians and safeguarding democracy, empowering Canadians, powering shared prosperity, building the Canadian sovereign AI foundation, scaling Canadian AI champions, and building trusted partnerships and global alliances.
Measures under the first pillar include plans to modernize privacy protections, introduce online safety measures and expand the Canadian AI Safety Institute. The strategy also calls for new protections related to children’s data, deepfakes and other emerging risks.
The government said its empowerment measures will focus on AI literacy, education, and employment. Plans include a national AI literacy initiative, training opportunities for workers, and access to trusted AI agents for post-secondary students. The strategy also aims to create more than 90,000 AI-related job and work-placement opportunities for young Canadians.
Economic measures include $500 million through the Regional AI Initiative to support AI adoption and commercialization. The government also planned to invest $200 million in its first AI Missions Program project, which will focus on improving health outcomes.
The sovereignty pillar includes plans for a public AI supercomputer and expanded Canadian controlled compute and cloud infrastructure. The government said these investments are intended to reduce dependence on foreign providers and keep more Canadian data under Canadian laws and standards. This strategy also earmarks $1.75 billion for help scale private-sector investments to incentivize AI research in Canada, and promises measures to attract foreign investment in AI, thereby building AI partnerships worldwide and encouraging the adoption of open-source AI by Canadians.
After the consultation closes, the government said it would review the submissions and publish a “What We Heard” report. To take part in the public consultation and fill out the survey, Canadians can go to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s website.
Sources
https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en/canadas-national-artificial-intelligence-strategy-ai-all
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2026/06/04/prime-minister-carney-launches-ai-all Canadas-new-national-artificial
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