THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Monday, February 23, 2026
(11)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 4:03 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Paulette Senior, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Arnold, Karetak-Lindell, McCallum, McPhedran, Robinson, Senior and Wells (Alberta) (7).
Participating in the meeting: Robert Mason and Madalina Chesoi, Analysts, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the committee began its study on the impact of artificial intelligence on human rights and economic security in Canada, especially in relation to vulnerable groups and the international human right to work.
WITNESSES:
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada:
Samir Chhabra, Director General, Marketplace Framework Policy Branch;
Katherine Burke, Director General, Foreign Investment Review and Economic Security Branch.
ControlAI:
Samuel Buteau, Consulting Program Officer.
Machine Intelligence Research Institute:
Malo Bourgon, Chief Executive Officer (by videoconference).
As individuals:
Emmanuel Zangio, 1834 Fellowship Fellow and Policy Analyst;
David Scott Krueger, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Operations Research, Université de Montréal (by videoconference);
Joel Nicolas Blit, Associate professor, Department of Economics, University of Waterloo (by videoconference);
Wendy H. Wong, Professor and Principal’s Research Chair, University of British Columbia Okanagan (by videoconference).
Samir Chhabra and Emmanuel Zangio each made a statement and, together with Katherine Burke, answered questions.
At 5:02 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:06 p.m., the committee resumed.
Samuel Buteau, David Scott Krueger and Malo Bourgon each made a statement and answered questions.
At 6:01 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:07 p.m., the committee resumed.
Joel Nicolas Blit and Wendy H. Wong each made a statement and answered questions.
At 7:04 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Sara Gajic
Clerk of the Committee