I don't think you can legislate so that businesses aren't hiring AI instead of real people. Let me offer a different perspective.
We work with clients all the time to operationalize their AI governance programs. When we're going through use-case identification, I always ask them three questions. Number one, what is the work they don't want to do because it's boring and mundane? Number two, how much time do they spend on each of those tasks? Number three, what would they be doing if they weren't doing those tasks? A hundred per cent of the time I am told they would be more proactive, they would be able to serve their mandate better and they would be able to contribute more value to their organization.
Here are my points.
Number one, AI as a tool is going to be used within our businesses, and we can't and shouldn't stop that use.
Number two, we will have to reorient the job market. I have kids. I'm distinctly aware of where they're headed and where there may be vulnerabilities in some of their job choices. I understand that there will be shifts in the way we structure labour within Canada, but we have to make that adjustment. Instead of resisting it, we have to support re-skilling and upskilling. This is something that we as a country have been talking about for many years.
The last point is about literacy. We should allow people to understand how this tool is to be used and enable them to better identify and shape their own career paths, recognizing the profound transformational impact of artificial intelligence.