AI sparks fear and mistrust in Canada, 85 percent call for government crackdown, says poll

A new poll shows Canadians want governments to step in and regulate artificial intelligence as the technology rapidly expands into daily life, classrooms, and workplaces. The Leger survey, conducted online between August 22 and 25 with 1,518 respondents, found that 85 percent of Canadians believe AI should be regulated. More than half of that group, 57 percent, said they strongly support government oversight.

But Canadians remain divided on AI’s overall impact. Thirty-four percent said AI is beneficial to society, while 36 percent view it as harmful. Another 31 percent were unsure. Most Canadians report that AI has had a positive impact in their workplaces.

“We know that public opinion around different types of AI vary on terms of how much we trust AI or how concerned we are with it,” said Jennifer McLeod Macey, senior vice-president of public affairs at Leger to Global News. “It won’t be a one-size-fits-all; it’s really quite nuanced.”

Canadians split on trust in AI

The survey highlights where people draw the line. About 64 percent said they would trust AI for household tasks or educational help. Trust dropped sharply for more critical areas, 36 percent for medical advice, 31 percent for legal advice, and just 18 percent believe AI could replace teachers.

A separate poll by Ipsos for TD Bank earlier this year that polled 2,500 Canadians between March 17 and March 31, found that younger Canadians are far more likely to view workplace benefits as important. Nearly 70 percent of Gen Z respondents said AI boosts productivity, compared to 50 percent of Gen X and only 38 percent of Baby Boomers.

Deepfake concerns growing

Experts warn that deepfakes, manipulated videos and voices, remain one of the most dangerous applications. According to Global News website, Steve DiPaola, a professor at Simon Fraser University, said Canada is already seeing politicians’ likenesses used in fraudulent ads.

“Regulating deep fakes, surely taking someone’s persona, and we’re seeing more and more of this in social media where there are celebrities or even politicians who appear to be in front of you like a TV commercial selling something that in fact they’ve never approved,” he said.

Earlier this month, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said his government is working to identify the creators behind deepfakes of himself and other high-profile figures, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, that continue to circulate online. Just weeks earlier, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security had warned that threat actors were using AI-generated text and voice messages to impersonate senior officials in attempts to steal money and sensitive information.

Ottawa’s evolving approach

Despite widespread calls for regulation, the federal government signaled earlier this summer that it is shifting its AI strategy. In his first speech as AI minister, Evan Solomon said Canada would avoid “over-indexing on warnings and regulation” to maximize the technology’s economic benefits.

In a statement Thursday(August 28), Solomon’s office said Ottawa is investing in secure infrastructure and supporting institutions like the AI Safety Institute to identify risks early. The government is expected to release more details when Parliament resumes in September.