Final Report to the AI Strategy Task Force

Executive Summary

Submitted to the Federal Government's AI Strategy Task Force on the theme of Safe AI and Public Trust, this report by Taylor Owen argues that ensuring the AI systems Canadians use are safe, support democratic health, and sustain public confidence is a core imperative of democratic governance. Its recommendations fall into three priority areas — Citizen Safety, Information Ecosystem Integrity, and Democratic Legitimacy — most implementable through two existing frameworks: an amended Online Harms Act that brings AI platforms into scope, and an amended Consumer Privacy Protection Act.

AI is embedded in Canadians' lives at an unprecedented rate, and while it can enhance creativity and learning, empirical studies document harms ranging from chatbots failing users in mental-health crises to amplifying mis- and disinformation, enabling non-consensual imagery and impersonation, and reinforcing stereotyping. Public concern is deeply held: only 46% of Canadians trust AI systems, 70% believe AI poses serious risks society is unprepared for, and only 1% trust AI to operate independently. Just 32% believe AI's benefits outweigh its risks, 89% worry about privacy, 78% fear AI-spread election falsehoods, and 70% are concerned about children accessing AI chatbots; in the 2025 election one in four Canadians encountered fake news sites and 80% were concerned about AI-generated misleading content.

These harms stem from corporate incentives largely insulated from democratic oversight. With 88% of Canadians supporting stronger AI governance, 85% wanting government oversight to ensure ethical and safe use, and 80% favouring penalties for AI-generated disinformation, Owen concludes that effective governance — achievable through targeted existing mechanisms rather than standalone AI legislation — is essential to a sovereign, trusted Canadian AI agenda.