Hon. Katherine Hay: I have a question for the Government Representative.

Senator Moreau, a month ago yesterday, Canadians were shaken by the horrific tragedy in Tumbler Ridge. No doubt, all of our thoughts remain with the families and the community who continue to carry that grief, day in and day out.

In the aftermath and after learning of the perpetrator’s activity in 2025 on ChatGPT that had been flagged by that system but never referred to police, Minister Solomon called Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, to a meeting to explain why. That meeting revealed a troubling pattern that probably surprises no one. Powerful tech companies, many of them multi-trillion-dollar market cap companies, are building algorithms and platforms that can influence opinions and behaviours, those of young people in particular, although not exclusively. Only after sustained pressure did the company agree to raise referral thresholds —

The Hon. the Speaker pro tempore: Senator Hay, thank you.

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): The question is probably, “What will the government do to make sure that those things are taken into consideration?” I thought that the question was coming.

The Ministers of Public Safety, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Justice, and Canadian Identity and Culture all met with OpenAI officials to discuss safety protocols, escalation processes and how the company operates in Canada. The government has made a number of demands, including a direct point of contact between OpenAI and the RCMP and new safety protocols that would direct people experiencing distress to local support services.

Canadians expect online platforms to have robust safety protocols and escalation, and so does the government.

Senator Hay: Thank you. I would say that accountability also needs to be with the social media companies that have it in their hands to build the right algorithms.

Canadians are looking for a national approach that helps build that trust that Minister Solomon refers to around how “technology moves at the speed of innovation, but adoption moves at the speed of trust.” Can you provide an update on the timeline for that?

Senator Moreau: Thank you.

I cannot speculate on a specific timeline, but Minister Solomon will be here mid-April to attend a Committee of the Whole. It will be very good timing to ask him the question directly. I know the minister is considering all options, including the introduction of new legislation, to ensure the safety of Canadians concerning AI.