A new nationwide poll commissioned by Leger has found that an overwhelming 85% of Canadians believe their government should be responsible for regulating artificial intelligence (AI) tools to ensure the ethical and safe application across public and private sectors. The survey, conducted online among 1,518 Canadians at the end of August 2025, sheds light on mounting public demand for oversight as AI technology rapidly transforms daily life, workplaces, and the economy.

Canada’s Attitude Toward AI Regulation: Insights from the Leger Poll

According to the Leger survey, 57% of respondents said they “strongly agree” that AI should be regulated. This sentiment has grown amidst a rapidly shifting landscape, where AI systems are increasingly present in areas ranging from healthcare diagnostics and autonomous vehicles to customer service chatbots and government decision-making.

Despite concerns, AI usage among Canadians is on the rise—up 10 percentage points since March, with 57% now having used at least one form of AI tool in the last year. This includes mainstream AI-powered search engines, virtual assistants, generative AI like ChatGPT, and smart home devices.

Leger’s findings are consistent with similar international surveys: A 2024 Pew Research Center study found that 90% of Americans favor some form of AI oversight, and a European Commission Eurobarometer survey reported that 79% of Europeans support AI regulation.

Public Concerns: Risks and Opportunities

The demand for regulation comes amid mounting concerns around AI’s potential to disrupt employment, exacerbate social inequality, and introduce algorithmic biases. The Leger poll highlighted several key anxieties among Canadians:

• Job Security: Many respondents worry about AI replacing human jobs in fields such as administration, logistics, and manufacturing. A 2024 Statistics Canada study estimated that up to 11% of Canadian jobs could be significantly affected by automation in this decade.
• Ethical Use: Algorithmic transparency, bias in automated decisions, and privacy protection are top priorities. The Cambridge Analytica data scandal and recent concerns over facial recognition misuse have contributed to calls for tougher standards.
• National Security and Safety: AI’s wrong application—ranging from misinformation to critical infrastructure attacks—has become a policy focus after several incidents of deepfake-driven scams and cyberthreats in North America in 2024.

At the same time, Canadians recognize AI’s transformative potential in accelerating medical research, combating climate change, and enhancing digital service delivery. The key challenge is how to harness these benefits without compromising safety or human rights.

Government Response and Industry Pushback

Despite overwhelming public support, recent comments from Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, suggest that the federal approach to AI regulation is becoming more measured. Instead of a “rush to regulate,” the government has indicated a new emphasis on enabling safe AI adoption and promoting innovation. Speaking at the 2025 Montreal AI Summit, Minister Champagne emphasized collaborations with tech sector leaders and international partners to shape a “made-in-Canada” approach to AI governance.

Canada unveiled its Voluntary Code of Conduct for AI in 2024, focusing on transparency, accountability, and risk mitigation. The proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), currently in parliamentary review, would establish a framework for safe AI deployment but is still months away from becoming law.

Meanwhile, the tech industry has responded with a mix of support and caution. Major Canadian AI startups and multinationals like Shopify, OpenText, and Coveo generally endorse regulatory clarity but warn that overly restrictive rules could drive innovation—and talent—offshore. They advocate for “proportionate and targeted” measures that foster responsible growth without stifling competitiveness.

International Developments: A Global Regulatory Race

The Canadian debate mirrors a global recalibration on AI governance. In 2024, the European Union passed its landmark AI Act, introducing binding rules on high-risk systems, transparency in algorithmic decision-making, and severe penalties for violations. The United States, by contrast, has taken a sectoral approach, with the Biden administration releasing an AI Bill of Rights—a non-binding guideline focused on civil liberties and safety.

Leading G7 countries, including Canada, have pledged to coordinate on shared standards, addressing the risk of regulatory fragmentation and technological “race to the bottom.” As AI becomes more powerful and foundational to societies and economies, the pressure mounts on policymakers worldwide to strike a balance between technological leadership and public protection.

The Road Ahead

With nearly nine in ten Canadians supporting government intervention, the direction is clear: There is strong appetite for clear guardrails as AI plays a growing role in society. However, the policy challenge lies in crafting regulations that are adaptive and informed by public input as well as by industry expertise. Stakeholders across tech, business, civil society, and government will need to engage in meaningful dialogue as Parliament reviews the AIDA legislation and as expectations evolve internationally.

As new forms of generative AI and machine learning continue to emerge, the Canadian public voice is likely to remain a key force shaping AI oversight—not just at home, but in the broader international effort to forge ethical, trustworthy artificial intelligence for all.