Canada launches public AI Use Register for federal government
The Government of Canada has released its first public AI Register, giving Canadians and public servants a clear view of where and how AI is used across federal institutions. It's a concrete move to advance the public service's AI Strategy and sharpen service delivery, productivity, and value for money.
For departments, this Register is a planning tool. It helps surface what already exists, reduce duplication, and spot opportunities to share or adapt solutions instead of rebuilding them from scratch.
What the Register includes
- Purpose and description of each system
- Intended or current use in operations or service delivery
- Built in-house or provided by a vendor
- Other details that support oversight and coordination
Scope today
The Register includes input from 42 institutions and lists 400+ systems at various stages-from early research and proofs of concept to fully deployed tools supporting operations and services. Entries draw on existing government data and have been validated by departments and agencies.
Why this matters for your team
- Portfolio visibility: See what's active across government before starting a new build.
- Procurement leverage: Identify shared needs and coordinate with peers on vendors and contracts.
- Risk and compliance: Connect systems to governance requirements, including the Directive on Automated Decision-Making.
- Performance focus: Tie AI use to measurable outcomes and service standards.
- Workforce planning: Spot skills gaps and prioritize training where it matters.
What's next
Public consultations in 2026 will gather feedback to refine the Register's design and usability. After that, institutions will update entries on a regular cadence to keep the inventory current.
Practical steps to take now
- Review entries related to your mandate and confirm accuracy: status, ownership, interfaces, and dependencies.
- Map overlaps with other departments and explore reuse or shared services before initiating new projects.
- Document measurable outcomes for each system and set up simple tracking for benefits and service impact.
- Check governance: AIA score, human oversight, privacy and security controls, testing and monitoring plans, and incident reporting.
- Assign clear accountability (product owner, data steward, business owner) and publish points of contact.
- Level up AI literacy across program, policy, and procurement teams. If helpful, browse focused options by role at Complete AI Training.
Resources
This Register signals a clear commitment: adopt AI responsibly, guided by values, ethics, and rules-and use technology to improve operations, strengthen decisions, and deliver better results for Canadians.
Your membership also unlocks:
