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Canada’s federal government is drafting a new public registry that will list artificial intelligence (AI) projects across departments, a move aimed at boosting transparency and avoiding duplication as the technology spreads through public services. Officials say the initiative will act as both an accountability tool for Canadians and an internal inventory for policymakers as AI plays an increasingly central role in government operations.
The adoption of AI is expanding quickly, but it is challenging to monitor progress or spot overlaps due to the lack of a centralized list, according to Stephen Burd, Canada's Chief Data Officer. Different departments have been experimenting with AI independently. For example, Transport Canada has been using AI systems to screen high-risk cargo, Agriculture Canada has been using AI to predict crop yield from satellite data, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada has been using AI to find lost fishing gear. Even though these initiatives seem promising, Ottawa wants to make sure that everything is coordinated.
A central AI hub has been piloted by the government as part of this plan. One early example is the Translation Bureau's automated translation tool, which is currently being used in Public Services and Procurement Canada and is anticipated to grow. Kara Beckles, the Treasury Board's leader of responsible data initiatives, emphasized that combining projects stops different departments from squandering money on the same kind of tool. She stated we don't want five different departments working on the same solution in silos.
The registry also backs Prime Minister Mark Carney's larger initiatives to increase government operations efficiency. AI is viewed as one way to help departments reach the 15 percent program spending reduction target set by Finance Minister Francois Philippe Champagne over the next several years. Officials point out that AI isn't their only tool and specifics are still being worked out, such as whether to concentrate solely on significant AI systems integrated into departmental operations or to include more common applications like email drafting.
Researchers have already documented hundreds of AI applications within the federal government, ranging from generative AI pilots at Canadian Heritage to facial recognition tools at the Canada Revenue Agency. By launching a formal registry, Ottawa hopes not only to shine a light on its expanding use of AI but also to ensure that these projects are deployed responsibly, efficiently, and with public trust in mind.
