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Canadian AI, as it happens.
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AI-generated summary
A Canadian defence company has chosen not to work with the United States government and is seeking alternatives amid heightened trade tensions. The decision points to the challenge of replacing US partnerships in artificial intelligence, a field where Canada has relied heavily on the United States.
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AI-generated summary
A Canadian defence company has chosen not to work with the United States government and is seeking alternatives amid heightened trade tensions. The decision points to the challenge of replacing US partnerships in artificial intelligence, a field where Canada has relied heavily on the United States.
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Summaries are AI-generated from linked sources and may contain errors or omit context. Read the original reporting for details.
A Calgary event scheduled for October 19, 2026, will bring together AI and energy company leaders, investors and founders to discuss the infrastructure needed for AI and keeping critical data and value in Canada.
The panel discussion is set for 6 to 7 p.m., followed by networking at Platform, 407 9 Ave SE.
Original source at Calgary Economic Development · Story page and citation
Halton Regional Police in Ontario are using AI simulations from United States firm GovWorx to help assess and train applicants for 911 call-taking and dispatch jobs.
Police say the technology cuts candidate evaluation time by 50 per cent and can test decision-making, communication and crisis management; training can take close to a year. The force has 75 dispatchers and call takers and aims to hire four to eight more this year.
Original source at TorontoToday.ca · Story page and citation
Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation Chief Rodger Redman has asked Bell Canada to consult the First Nation about its AI data centre near Regina and proposed expansion.
The project in the Rural Municipality of Sherwood is set to grow from 300 megawatts to 1.2 gigawatts. Redman’s concerns include groundwater, cooling systems, natural gas use, waste disposal and site rehabilitation. He has given Bell’s senior leadership 10 business days to respond; if it does not, he says the First Nation may pursue legal action or a judicial review.
A new Angus Reid Institute study found that 64% of Canadians want their provincial government to limit large data centres, while 18% want development encouraged.
Among those favouring limits, 51% cite high water use and 38% cite electricity costs. A separate Nanos study found that 64% oppose government subsidies and incentives for AI data centre construction.
AI could help Canadian settlement agencies answer routine questions, direct newcomers to services and reduce paperwork, but it should not replace settlement workers or qualified immigration advisers, says an immigration policy researcher.
In 2024–25, more than 550 partner organizations served just over 690,000 newcomers outside Quebec. The researcher recommends a hybrid approach, with people handling complex, legal and sensitive needs; digital access, privacy and accessibility remain concerns.
Original source at The Conversation · Story page and citation
Canada’s banking regulator, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), says rapid advances in frontier AI are increasing cyber, third-party and reputational risks for federally regulated financial institutions.
AI can help attackers find and exploit weaknesses faster, while reliance on a small number of mainly foreign providers could expose institutions to shared outages and greater cross-border dependencies. OSFI says the financial system remains resilient, but institutions should strengthen their defences, governance, controls and testing as AI capabilities advance; the regulator will continue assessing emerging risks.
Original source at Wealth Professional · Story page and citation
Alberta used artificial intelligence to help prepare an initial draft of its Whisky Act, which sets labelling standards for the province’s whisky.
Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said AI helped analyse information and develop building blocks, while government staff reviewed the work; he said Alberta does not expect AI to write legislation on its own. Legal analysis by Fasken warns that AI can miss policy context or carry bias, so human oversight remains essential.
Original source at The Globe and Mail · Story page and citation
A 16-year-old hiker was rescued by helicopter after becoming stranded on a steep cliff on British Columbia’s Crown Mountain.
He had used Claude AI while planning the hike, but also consulted Google Maps and other tools; rescuers said he had strayed from the established trail onto a climbing route. North Shore Rescue warned hikers not to rely entirely on AI for route planning.
Original source at The Times of India · Story page and citation
Canada’s banking regulator warns that AI adoption could increase cyber threats and leave lenders exposed to outages at major technology providers.
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions says financial firms need stronger monitoring of providers and oversight of AI, while boards and senior managers remain responsible for managing risks. It says federally regulated institutions remain resilient and profitable.
Original source at Canadian Mortgage Trends · Story page and citation
Canadian businesses’ use of AI doubled to 12.2 per cent in 2025, up from 6.1 per cent in 2024, according to Statistics Canada figures.
But a survey presented at a 2026 technology forum in Vancouver found that only 18 per cent of organisations had a formal AI policy, while 67 per cent of employees used unapproved AI tools. The figures point to a gap in oversight as adoption grows.
Original source at Digital Journal · Story page and citation