People’s Consultation on AI launched as antidote to Canada’s 30-day rapid sprint

Author Sharlene Gandhi

A People’s Consultation will now allow communities and civil society organizations to have their say in shaping Canada’s AI policy. 

Launched on Jan. 21, 2026, the People’s Consultation aims to “break free from limited, industry-dominated frames” of the rapid, 30-day consultation led by Minister Evan Solomon, Canada’s minister of artificial intelligence. 

The program follows an open letter from signatories who called the consultation process for Canada’s AI strategy flawed.

People can participate at three levels: basic submissions, advanced submissions with AI and other domain expertise, and small gatherings in the community. All final comments will be made available on the People’s Consultation website in March 2026. 

Minister Solomon launched the “national sprint” at the end of 2025, inviting industry representatives, researchers, public servants and community members to shape the future of AI in Canada.

Several civil society and human rights organizations criticized the 30-day process, asking for an extension to the consultation and reiterating the risks of fast-tracking artificial intelligence on marginalized communities. 

Canada currently lacks AI legislation, with the proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act taken off the table when Parliament was prorogued in early 2025. 

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  • Sharlene Gandhi is the Future of Good editorial fellow on digital transformation.

    Sharlene has been reporting on responsible business, environmental sustainability and technology in the UK and Canada since 2018. She has worked with various organizations during this time, including the Stanford Social Innovation Review, the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business at Lancaster University, AIGA Eye on Design, Social Enterprise UK and Nature is a Human Right. Sharlene moved to Toronto in early 2023 to join the Future of Good team, where she has been reporting at the intersections of technology, data and social purpose work. Her reporting has spanned several subject areas, including AI policy, cybersecurity, ethical data collection, and technology partnerships between the private, public and third sectors.

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