Progress on AI in government

Release of Generative AI in Your Daily Work (October 15, 2024)

• Complements the Guide on the Use of Generative AI, offering concise best practices and do’s and don’ts for the use of generative AI tools by public servants in their daily work

Public Consultation on Government of Canada’s artificial intelligence strategy for the federal public service (September 16 – October 31, 2024)

• Artificial intelligence (AI) has enormous potential to further improve productivity, efficiency and the quality of services the federal government provides to Canadians. To ensure that AI is adopted responsibly, inclusively, and safely, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat is developing an AI strategy for the Government of Canada

Release of the Guide on Scope of the Directive on Automated Decision-Making (June 27, 2024)

• Provides additional information to help departments assess whether their automated systems fall within the scope of the directive

Minister Anand hosts AI roundtable to inform the first-ever artificial intelligence strategy for the federal public service (May 27, 2024)

Updates to the Guide on the use of generative artificial intelligence (February 20, 2024)

• The second version of the guide incorporates feedback from targeted external stakeholder engagement (academics, bargaining agents and industry) and addresses questions from federal institutions
• Key changes include enhanced definitions for the FASTER principles, new sections on responsibilities for federal institutions and documentation requirements, and the addition of new frequently asked questions

Endorsement of the updated Digital Nations Shared Approach to the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Government (November 13, 2023)

• The Shared Approach was initially developed in 2018 by member countries including Canada
• The updated Shared Approach re-confirms the collective commitment to develop and implement approaches to AI governance in the public sector that reflect the core principles of transparency, accountability, and procedural fairness

Release of the Guide on the use of generative artificial intelligence (September 6, 2023)

• Provides guidance to federal institutions in their use of generative AI
• Includes an overview of generative AI, identifies limitations and concerns about its use, puts forward “FASTER” principles for its responsible use, and includes policy considerations and best practices

Updates to the Directive on Automated Decision-Making (April 25, 2023)

• The Directive was amended following the third review of the instrument
• Key changes include an expanded scope and new measures for explanation, bias testing, data governance, GBA+, and peer review
• The Algorithmic Impact Assessment was updated to support changes to the directive. This includes new questions concerning the reasons for automation and impacts on persons with disabilities

Stakeholder engagement on the third review of the Directive on Automated Decision-Making (April – November, 2022)

• Engagement with over 30 stakeholder groups, including in federal institutions, universities, civil society organizations, governments in other jurisdictions, and international organizations
• Engagement included roundtables with the GC Advisory Council on AI, Canadian Human Rights Commission, Digital Governance Council, bargaining agents, networks for equity-seeking federal employees, and representatives from relevant GC functional communities

Updates to the Directive on Automated Decision-Making (April 1, 2021)

• The Directive was amended based on feedback received from stakeholders

Compliance with the Directive on Automated Decision-Making (April 1, 2020)

• All new automated decision systems must now comply with the Directive

Launch of the Directive on Automated Decision-Making (March 4, 2019)

• Official launch of the Directive during the Second AI Day

Lunch and Learn with GC Entrepreneurs group (October 12, 2018)

Justice AI taskforce session (June 12, 2018)

• Justice AI taskforce created to provide input and direction on legal issues
• 25 representatives including from human rights, IP, commercial, IRCC, ESDC, and TBS

AI Day (May 28, 2018)

• 120 participants from industry, academia, and government

AI policy working group kick-off (February 16, 2018)

• Hosted by GAC to develop departmental policies on AI

Policy Horizons Directive Design Session (February 13, 2018)

• Interdepartmental workshop to talk about the development of the Directive
• Participants included TBS, IRCC, ISED, and ESDC

Kick-off session with Departments (January 22, 2018)

• Organized workshop with over 100 participants
• Participants included TBS, IRCC, DFO, AAFC, CBSA, Funding Councils, GAC, ESDC, NRC, PCH, HC, NRCAN, Canada Council for the Arts, CRA, ISED, Policy Horizons, and SSC

Drafting of the Directive (October, 2017 – March, 2019)

• TBS binding policy focused on the automation of decisions

Drafting of the AI whitepaper (October, 2016 – October, 2017)

• Developed in the open with several academic, civil society, and government subject matter experts