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Either Kahlon was wrong when he said BC was helping shape strategy, or Glumac is admitting that BC wasn't even at the grownup table


Gavin Dew, BC Conservative Critic for Jobs, Economic Development, Innovation, and AI is asking "Why doesn't British Columbia have its own AI strategy?"

British Columbians have now heard two very different stories from this NDP government. In April, Minister of State for AI Rick Glumac told the Legislature that BC was working closely with Ottawa and pushing for a national framework on artificial intelligence. 

In May, Minister Ravi Kahlon claimed British Columbia was actively shaping the federal government's AI strategy and helping lead the conversation. Now that the federal strategy has finally been released, Minister Glumac is suddenly criticizing it and suggesting British Columbia's concerns were not addressed, according to a statement given to BC Today.

So, which is it? Either Minister Kahlon was wrong when he said British Columbia was helping shape the strategy, or Minister Glumac is admitting that despite all the government's talk, BC wasn't even at the grownup table. Under this NDP government, BC is increasingly irrelevant and out of step with national strategic conversations, whether it’s on pipelines or AI.”

More importantly, where is British Columbia's plan?

For months, the government has promised action on AI. Meanwhile, businesses, workers, educators, and public institutions are trying to navigate one of the most significant technological shifts in generations without any clear provincial direction. Artificial intelligence is already transforming our economy, our workforce, our healthcare system, and our public services.

Instead of issuing press releases criticizing Ottawa, the government should explain why British Columbia still does not have its own AI strategy after Rick Glumac has been on the job for 8 months, what specific goals the province is pursuing, and when British Columbians can expect a real plan.

British Columbians are left wondering whether anyone in government is actually leading on this file. Government leadership means more than commenting on someone else's strategy. It means delivering one of your own, concluded Dew. 

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