Generative AI is shaping culture, politics, and economics, but commercial models often prioritize profit over public good. For changemakers, exploring CanGPT means rethinking AI as democratic infrastructure — a tool designed to serve communities, not just corporations.
While the choice model food bank is not a new concept, Regina’s Community Food Hub has also added a “layer of innovation” through data-enabled decision-making, said CEO John Bailey. Although clients are not paying for their food, data about what they are “buying” is becoming invaluable to the food bank’s operations.
Indigenous data governance and sovereignty frameworks emphasize that Indigenous peoples should have the authority to own, control and access their own data. By design, many software platforms and digital tools do not respect those rights.
The current Liberal government has pledged to accelerate the delivery of nation-building initiatives and build Canada’s resilience. However, the affordability crisis has been slowing the economy and affecting communities, while a large portion of retail investors’ money is invested abroad. The social finance sector wants to persuade the federal government that it is part of the solution and that its model aligns with Canada’s challenges.
Charities and non-profits may find long-term sustainability challenging, given high delivery costs, fluctuating donation patterns, changing community needs, and shifting priorities for funders. One under-explored exit strategy is to merge operations with other organizations. Charities and non-profits, however, need to be aware of their obligations with the Canada Revenue Agency should they choose to go down this route.
