Science and Research Committee on Feb. 2nd, 2026

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

It's your time.

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

If I take that example, does all government AI give wrong answers the majority of the time?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Again, the process.... I'm not familiar with the process of who built chatbot Charlie. I'm happy to investigate that, but I would be very hesitant, as any good analysis—

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

It's a simple yes-or-no question.

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

—is not to infer results of one thing from another. That is not what one would do. One would investigate every single circumstance, as opposed to drawing conclusions based on an anecdote.

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

Minister, the Auditor General herself confirmed that out of six questions asked, the chatbot was only able to answer two questions correctly, so that takes us to a 33% correct answer ratio.

My question was simple: Does all government AI give wrong answers the majority of the time to the majority of questions, yes or no?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Again, I really appreciate the question. I won't comment on this specific situation, but I will say that we are working very closely on any system inside government to deliver accurate services. If it's not accurate, there's a process to fix it. I don't have a comment on that particular incident.

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

You don't have an answer, or perhaps you don't want to give that answer. That's fine.

Let's move on to the next question, Minister.

If I take the same example of the same robot, that is technically doing the job of a CRA agent. Is that correct?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Again, you're asking me about CRA, and I—

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

No, I'm asking you about the AI that was put for CRA.

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Right. I'm happy you're asking.

As you know, all public servants are subject to Treasury Board rules—

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

Minister, I only have limited time, and this is not—

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

—and CRA is not necessarily—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Can you please allow the minister to respond to the question? Please go one person at a time, because it creates interpretation problems.

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

If the minister is dodging my questions, then—

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Can I—

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

—my time is eaten out. I have to stop the minister if his answer is not directed toward the question and is going off the question line.

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

I can clarify that.

The broader public service is subject to Treasury Board. That would avoid those situations. As you know, CRA is not subject to those TBS rules, so it's a little more difficult for me to comment on that.

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

Let's move on, Minister.

How many years of technical or regulatory experience do you have to be appointed to this AI ministry?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Can you repeat the question?

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

How many years of technical or regulatory experience do you hold, so that you were appointed as a minister of AI?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Well, I've been working in this industry, as you know.... I started the first digital magazine, Shift magazine, over 25 years ago, and I spent many years in the digital industry. I worked in this industry in my former job as well. We had a very deep focus on AI, but I have not sat on a regulatory body.

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

You do not have any technical degree or regulatory diploma that backs you up as an AI minister.

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

A regulatory diploma, no.... Again, I'm not sure what a regulatory diploma is, but—

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Okay. Thank you.