What would be the role of Parliament and its accountability requirements if AI can operate outside human control? How could backbench MPs possibly hold ministers to account if AI can undermine human influence in striking decisions? How will Parliament and government establish the difference between AI’s benefits and the problematic loss of human influence in shaping policies and delivering programs?
Giving the power to a majority of MPs to decide when they meet would go some distance in giving Parliament some power over the government of the day. More would be required to give Parliament credibility in the eyes of Canadians, but it would be a start.
The stakes for Canada, for representative democracy, and for the future of our institutions are too high to simply let things drift. It is also important to explore every avenue to involve Canadians in the debate either through a royal commission or a high-profile, all-party parliamentary committee, staffed with the best advisers, criss-crossing the country. This would have the added benefit of strengthening the civic literacy among Canadians, another important step in arresting democratic backsliding.
Canada should commit to limit the size of cabinet to 20, and to bring all important government decisions before cabinet. Give more power to cabinet and stop using it as a focus group. This would also help to bring cabinet government back and reallocate some of the savings to MPs and parliamentary committees.
The following is an excerpt from Canada: Beyond Grudges, Grievances, and Disunity, by Donald Savoie, one of five books shortlisted for this year’s Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.
