Canadian Human Rights Commission responds to new AI strategy

The Canadian Human Rights Commission has issued a statement regarding the Government of Canada’s new national artificial intelligence strategy, titled ‘AI for All.’ The commission’s leadership, including Chief Commissioner Charlotte-Anne Malischewski, Accessibility Commissioner Christopher T. Sutton, and Pay Equity Commissioner Lori Straznicky, expressed support for the government’s commitment to equity and accessibility.

While welcoming the strategy, the commissioners noted that the benefits of AI are not automatic. They warned that if systemic discrimination and bias are embedded in data and system design, AI could replicate existing inequalities and exclude diverse communities. The commission emphasized that Canada must ensure AI development addresses systemic barriers faced by equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities, while upholding the fundamental human right to privacy.