Private Member’s Motion – Artificial Intelligence use in Government.

NEWS                                                                                                                                     April 12, 2024

Newmarket – Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP of Newmarket—Aurora, has tabled a Private Members Motion regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in government. This motion will serve as an impetus for the provincial government to move forward in adopting methods to assess potential risks and to ensure AI is used transparently and ethically within government, while also considering cybersecurity threats.

The motion reads: That, in the opinion of this House, the Government of Ontario should adopt methods to assess potential risks and judge the successful adoption and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence use in government while developing measures to counter emerging cyber security threats.

AI is rapidly advancing and changing the way people interact with businesses and government. To date, Ontario’s Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery has performed consultations and published a Trustworthy AI Framework. As a government, we need to do more to ensure a secure digital future.

“The time is now for our government to act on a great opportunity to utilize AI to digitally transform customer service for Ontarians. This motion aims to do exactly that,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP for Newmarket—Aurora.

Currently, there is no federal, provincial, or territorial law that governs the responsible use of AI within government. “We can be a leader by starting small, learn about the unknowns and further utilize this technology,” urges Gallagher Murphy. “This will ensure the transparent, responsible, and ethical use of AI across Ontario’s Public services.”

Quotes from Ministers:

“I thank MPP Gallagher Murphy for her advocacy as we work together with our public and private sector partners to position Ontario as a global leader in the responsible adoption of Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies,” said Todd McCarthy, the Minister of Public Business and Service Delivery. “That is why we established our AI Expert Working Group and developed Ontario’s first Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence Framework. Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we are leading by example in unlocking the power of Artificial Intelligence by taking these important first steps in guiding the government’s responsible use of this revolutionary new technology.”

The Honourable Minister Todd McCarthy, Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery

“Under Premier Ford, our government is working for workers, creating opportunities to earn a well-paying lifelong career, while also addressing the evolving nature of work with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI),” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Under our fourth Working for Workers Bill, which passed last month, we have required employers to disclose if AI is used during the hiring process, to protect workers’ privacy rights and ensure workers aren’t being excluded from the job market because of technological biases. I support this Private Members Motion as another step in our government’s plan to modernize the delivery of services, while continuing to protect Ontarians’ digital privacy.”

The Honourable Minister David Piccini, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

Motion Endorsements from key stakeholders:

Vector believes that the AI Trust & Safety Principles we have developed can provide valuable guidance for other organizations as they work to establish their own codes of conduct and AI policies. These principles serve as a starting point for organizations that are just beginning their AI journey, while more established organizations can build upon them to best suit their specific needs.

We think your motion fits into this theme and that these principles will cause organizations to consider how they will conduct business in an AI-enabled world.

Ben Davies, Chief Information Officer, Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence

This legislative initiative aims to prevent misuse while also cultivating a secure environment conducive to the positive advancement of AI. These standards and guidelines will create a roadmap for development and deployment, promoting innovation while discouraging malicious activities.

I call upon the members of the Legislative Assembly to endorse this proposal with urgency and dedication. Acting now will ensure that Ontario not only reaps the benefits of AI, but also sets a precedent for safeguarding against any misuse.

Let us seize this opportunity to lead with foresight and accountability forging a more secure future for all Ontarians in this era.

Ron O’Neil, Owner/Founder, AI Intelligent Solutions

Responsible adoption of new technologies is critical for building and maintaining trust with citizens. The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University advances public policy, learning and convening toward this end through our Secure and Responsible Technology Policy program. Through this program, we encourage any government or technology provider to focus on: transparency: accountability; equity and inclusion; security and safety; prudence; and democratic legitimacy.

To that end, we are pleased to support the proposed motion that you shared to develop methods to assess and mitigate potential risks in adopting AI by the Ontario government

Sam Andrey, Managing Director / André Coté, Director of Policy and Research, Toronto Metropolitan University, the dais

Quick Facts:

Ontario Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI) Framework: Ontario’s Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI) Framework | ontario.ca

Links to Social posts regarding Motion:

Instagram: Excited to announce the tabling of my Private Members Motion, focused on ensuring the transparent and ethical use of… | Instagram

Facebook: Excited to announce the tabling of my… – Dawn Gallagher Murphy | Facebook

X: Dawn Gallagher Murphy on X: “Excited to announce the tabling of my Private Members Motion, focused on ensuring the transparent and ethical use of #ArtificialIntelligence (AI) in government, while considering cybersecurity threats. This motion will build upon the Ontario Trustworthy AI Framework. https://t.co/h3BzJ9CSkm” / X (twitter.com)

LinkedIn: Dawn Gallagher Murphy – Private Members Motion on AI use in Government

For further information and to arrange a media interview, please contact:

Joanne Kim,

EA to PA Dawn Gallagher Murphy

Email: joanne.kim@pc.ola.org

Mobile: 905-960-8410