Science and Research Committee on Feb. 2nd, 2026

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

That's perfect.

Mr. Minister, I understand there may be some confusion, there are a lot of figures, 11,300 submissions. However, as you know, for people to have confidence, you have to know what you're talking about. There seems to be some confusion. I would still like to speak to you before the meetings because what we're doing today is quite important.

You talked about leadership. What I'm seeing right now is that Canada doesn't have a legislative framework for artificial intelligence. It also lacks the sovereign computational capacity needed to get AI systems up and running. It has no binding rules on data governance or on the framework that is based on voluntary mechanisms. So you want to have the most powerful engine in your car, but you don't have the brakes or the legislative framework to go with it.

What do you say to that?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Thank you for the question.

We will, as I have promised, provide an update of Canada's privacy and data laws, the PIPEDA. We are finalizing the legislation, which is very important, and I'm glad you're asking about it.

People do need to know that the legislation still exists. It is not a void, but we need to update it. It is important to update it, and we will be putting forward that legislative framework, that piece of legislation, soon. We're just putting the finishing touches on it to get it right.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Minister, you said that the legislation governing artificial intelligence exists. What is the title of that act?

I'm not aware of it.

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Well, we haven't tabled the legislation yet, but, as I said, we will be tabling the legislation very shortly. We're working on it, and we will be tabling it.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

On what date will you be tabling the bill, Minister?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Well, I'm hoping it's going to be very soon, in this quarter. We'll table it as soon as we believe it's ready, but I think it's important not to rush. We have to move quickly, but we have to move prudently and responsibly. This technology is changing quickly, and we have to make sure that we get this right, to make sure that Canadians' privacy and data are protected, while at the same time making sure that we are not constraining innovation. It's a very important balance.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

It's important not to rush things, but it's also important to have a plan to reassure people. You are appearing before the committee today, and you don't know when your documents were made public. You don't know when you'll be introducing a bill to provide a framework for artificial intelligence.

This is serious, Mr. Minister. Do you really have a plan or are you building the plane mid-flight?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Again, I do know the dates, so let me just repeat. Today, the documents went public. I'm happy to talk about those. We will very shortly have a piece of legislation on privacy and, as I said, we will be launching and introducing our AI national strategy this quarter. We're very much looking forward to it. We're working hard to make sure that it's comprehensive, that it provides AI for all, and that it's a responsible plan.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

On what date will the strategy be tabled, Minister?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

The strategy will be tabled this quarter. We are making sure that we get the exact right strategy—

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

There is no bill or date for your strategy. You don't know where you're going. That's pretty much it.

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Well, it will be very.... I'm glad that you're enthusiastic about it. I appreciate the enthusiasm.

It will be coming very soon.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

I'm sorry for interrupting. Time is up for MP Blanchette-Joncas.

We will now start our second round of five minutes and two and a half minutes. We will start with MP Ho for five minutes.

Please go ahead.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Thanks, Madam Chair.

Minister Solomon, you announced, throughout last year, that your government is going to adopt AI into the government to deliver better service for Canadians. What kinds of cuts in the public service are we talking about?

Amazon recently announced that they had to cut 16,000 jobs globally because of AI adoption, so I'm wondering, for an enterprise like the federal government, how many jobs we're talking about.

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

We are very proud of the program of savings that this government has overseen, because we believe in investing in people. There's more money for programs. AI is meant to enhance the capability of our government to serve Canadians. As we adopt AI, it should help the service.

Let me give you one example. We created an AI tool to help us summarize and work with the 11,000 submissions. That could have taken between eight and nine months, but we did it in about eight days. Those are the kinds of savings and efficiencies I think people would like to see.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Okay. It's good to know that you're endeavouring to improve service for Canadians. I think we can all agree that's a great endeavour.

Are you saying that no jobs are going to be cut? You just answered my question with improving service without cutting those jobs.

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

I'm saying that we are committed, as a government, to finding efficiencies and to finding savings and to serve Canadians better, and if we use Canadian technology—

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Where are those savings coming from?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

—and Canadian AI tools to make sure that we deliver faster, better service, we will invest in that.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Where are those savings coming from? You just said that you're going to endeavour to improve service delivery and that you're going to find savings somehow, so where are the savings coming from? Of course, implementing those AI tools is going to have a cost, too, so where are those savings coming from?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Well, let me just say that I am delighted that the member is enthusiastic about the use of efficient tools. I know that, during the campaign, your party wanted to cut all funding for AI initiatives to zero—

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

How much is—

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

—so, now that—

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

How much is the adoption of AI going to cost the government? I mean, there's going to be a cost associated with implementing AI, and then hopefully we're going to see some savings down the road, but how much is the initial cost going to be?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Toronto Centre, ON]

Well, we believe that investing in Canadian tech companies is an important role. We believe government has a job not only to buy in Canada. That's why we did the—