Evidence for Democracy

05/29/2026

What does transparency mean in the age of AI?

In this clip, we explore how transparency isn’t just about making information available, but about making it understandable and meaningful to the public. Knowing what people actually want to see, and how they want it communicated, is essential for building trust and accountability in AI systems.

Thank you to our panellists, Beatrice Wayne, Helen Hayes, Renée Siebe, and Kimberley Kargus for sharing their insights.

This discussion is part of Evidence for Democracy’s report on AI and democracy.

Watch the full recording: https://youtu.be/xRDPXL5PmgI?si=sbJNZg6XR5CGiu9G

05/27/2026

Using AI isn’t always the right solution.

In this clip, panellists reflect on the importance of asking whether AI is actually useful for the problem at hand, rather than assuming it should be used. This means considering the context, the goals, and whether other approaches may be more effective.

Thank you to our panellists, Beatrice Wayne, Helen Hayes, Renée Siebe, and Kimberley Kargus for sharing their insights.

This discussion is part of Evidence for Democracy’s report on AI and democracy.

Watch the full recording: https://youtu.be/xRDPXL5PmgI?si=sbJNZg6XR5CGiu9G

05/26/2026

Our new Spotlight Series is now public!

Data, Doubt, and Distrust: The Public Impact of Alberta's COVID-19 Task Force Report is a volunteer-led case study authored by Hannah Shuster-Hyman, a PhD candidate in Physiology at the University of Toronto. It examines how Alberta's government-commissioned COVID-19 Task Force report sparked widespread condemnation from the medical and scientific community, and why that matters for public health right now.

The analysis identifies serious problems with the quality of evidence used in the report, a lack of transparency, and the use of polarizing rhetoric that has contributed to the erosion of trust in science and healthcare institutions. These are not abstract concerns. Alberta led North America in measles cases in 2025, and Canada has since lost its measles elimination status, a designation it held for over two decades.

Read the full report here: https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/research/spotlight-series-data-doubt-and-distrust-the-public-impact-of-albertas-covid-19-task-force-report/

05/23/2026

Why are people turning to AI for answers?

In this clip from our panel on misinformation in Canada, experts discuss how AI tools can appear confident and authoritative, even when they are uncertain or wrong. That sense of certainty can be appealing in a fragmented information environment where trust in traditional sources has eroded.

This discussion was part of the launch of Evidence for Democracy’s latest report on the evolution of misinformation in Canada.

Watch the full panel recording on our YouTube: https://youtu.be/65QPQ6ysCaU?si=47x89j9tqwynEQJe

05/22/2026

Evidence for Democracy has officially submitted our pre-budget recommendations to the Government of Canada.

Our submission makes the case for two things we believe are fundamental to Canada's future: a stronger science and research ecosystem, and better-protected democratic institutions.

On research, we're calling for increased granting council budgets, full coverage of research costs, restored intramural science funding, and a five-year National Science, Research, and Innovation Strategy. On democracy, we're urging the government to establish a non-partisan Canadian Democracy Fund and reintroduce a strengthened Online Harms Act to address AI-manipulated content and criminal disinformation.

Canada's researchers and democratic institutions deserve a government that follows through. We hope to see these recommendations reflected in the next federal budget.

Read the full submission here: https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/evidence-for-democracy-submits-pre-budget-submission-calling-for-stronger-investment-in-science-research-and-democratic-institutions/

05/20/2026

Why are we talking about AI and democracy?

In this clip, we explore why artificial intelligence is no longer just a technical issue, but a democratic one. From shaping how information is created and shared to influencing public trust and decision-making, AI is already affecting our democracy.

Thank you to our panellists, Beatrice Wayne, Helen Hayes, Renée Siebe, and Kimberley Kargus for sharing their insights.

This discussion is part of Evidence for Democracy’s report on AI and democracy.

Watch the full recording: https://youtu.be/xRDPXL5PmgI?si=sbJNZg6XR5CGiu9G

04/22/2026

Public interest research shows that Canadians want to see stronger regulation of AI, yet meaningful action has been slow.

Thank you to our panellists, Beatrice Wayne, Helen Hayes, Renée Siebe, and Kimberley Kargus for sharing their insights.

This discussion is part of Evidence for Democracy’s report on AI and democracy.

Watch the full recording: https://youtu.be/xRDPXL5PmgI?si=sbJNZg6XR5CGiu9G

04/16/2026

Global competition in AI is accelerating, and Canada is placing strong hopes on its potential.

In this clip, our panellists discuss how the push to keep pace in a global AI race can come at the expense of thoughtful public engagement, raising important questions about whose voices are included in shaping these technologies.

Thank you to our panellists, Beatrice Wayne, Helen Hayes, Renée Siebe, and Kimberley Kargus for sharing their insights.

This discussion is part of Evidence for Democracy’s report on AI and democracy.

Watch the full recording: https://youtu.be/xRDPXL5PmgI?si=sbJNZg6XR5CGiu9G

03/25/2026

Canadians are increasingly aware that AI is changing how we live and work, but far less is known about how the federal government itself is using AI, and what that means for democracy.

Today, Evidence for Democracy is releasing a new report examining Canada's first publicly available AI Register. We looked at how AI is being deployed across the federal public service, where it is directly shaping policy decisions, and what the heavy reliance on American-owned AI infrastructure means for national security and data sovereignty.

At a time when public trust in federal institutions is low, Canadians deserve to know how AI is being used in their name, and what safeguards exist to ensure it serves the public interest.

Read the full report here:

Read the One-Page Summary   On 28 November 2025, the Treasury Board launched the government’s first publicly available AI Register, […]

03/19/2026

Big news ahead of next week's panel: a new panellist has joined our lineup!
The event is part of the launch of our new report on AI and democracy, and it's your first opportunity to engage with the findings live alongside experts in policy, technology, and ethics.

We'll be exploring how AI is currently being used in policy development, what it means for fairness and evidence-based decision-making, and what stronger accountability frameworks could look like.

March 24, 2026 | 12 PM ET | Zoom

Register here: https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/ai-and-democracy-navigating-trust-truth-and-technology-in-policymaking/

03/12/2026

Artificial intelligence is changing how governments collect evidence, analyze data, and shape public policy. But as these tools become embedded in decision-making, pressing questions emerge around transparency, bias, and public trust.

On March 24, Evidence for Democracy is hosting a public panel bringing together experts in policy, technology, and ethics to examine what AI integration means for democratic accountability.

We'll be exploring how AI is currently being used in policy development, what it means for fairness and evidence-based decision-making, and what stronger accountability frameworks could look like.

March 24, 2026 | 12 PM ET | Zoom

Register here: https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/ai-and-democracy-navigating-trust-truth-and-technology-in-policymaking/