Canada Embraces AI Without Worker Protections

Canada is accelerating its commitment to artificial intelligence, funneling billions of dollars into infrastructure and courting tech companies to expand domestic data centre capacity. Federal and provincial governments have made these investments a priority, aiming to solidify the country’s position in the global tech race. However, labour and policy experts warn that this rapid expansion is outpacing the development of necessary worker protections and safety standards.

Canadians expect health care solutions as Parliament resumes, reflecting a broader national anxiety about systemic stability during rapid technological shifts. [1] Nathan, an AI engineering manager at a Toronto-based Big Tech company, said he does not take sick days. Even while ill, he works through his shifts, admitting his work-life balance has suffered. Nathan asked that his surname be withheld to avoid jeopardizing his employment. Nathan manages a 24/7 operation across multiple time zones and is expected to respond to messages within minutes during his 12-hour shifts. Nathan said this accelerated pace has become normalized as the underlying infrastructure scales up.

The impact extends beyond the tech sector. Kaylie Tiessen, Chief Economist at the SHIELD Institute, has studied how AI algorithms risk the health and safety of workers in non-tech industries. She noted that job loss is not the only consequence of widespread adoption. “It’s not just about whether or not you lose your job,” Tiessen said. “There are so many mental health impacts we are not tracking.”

She observed that workers are increasingly being directed by AI to work faster and exert themselves more intensely. Tiessen emphasized the importance of task diversity in reducing physical and mental strain. If an AI-enabled robot brings boxes to a warehouse worker, the repetitive motion of stacking them is more taxing than moving through the facility performing varied tasks.

Surveillance and the rise of bossware

This dynamic is also visible in customer service. When AI chatbots handle easier cases, the remaining human interactions often involve frustrated customers, creating a recipe for burnout among staff. Truck drivers face another set of challenges with the rise of “bossware.” Surveillance tools now track eye movements, braking intensity, and acceleration. When data deviates from algorithmic norms, it can justify discipline or lost work, leading to greater anxiety and reduced road safety.

Software designed to monitor computer mouse movements and keystrokes became widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Ontario became the first province to mandate that employers notify employees about monitoring practices. Despite these rules, Tiessen argued that the data collected can still be used to discipline workers later. This creates immense pressure, as employees make decisions based on what they think the algorithm requires rather than what feels best.

Productivity gains are elusive

Claims that AI tools universally ease workloads face scrutiny from a recent study by METR, a non-profit evaluating AI models. The research found that AI coding tools actually slow down coding work by 19 per cent. This finding challenges the narrative that productivity is increasing, even as investment in the sector continues to rise.

Tiessen argued that AI companies should be required to make their systems transparent and explain how algorithms function and shape productivity expectations. Chris Roberts, Director of Social and Economic Policy at the Canadian Labour Congress, agreed. He suggested that the Canadian government prioritizes facilitating the commercial AI industry over addressing the risks workers face.

Roberts noted that Canada lacks proactive legislation to manage algorithmic management and wage determination. He pointed out a significant gap in policy: there is no coordinated framework to prepare workers for technological labour shocks, such as the de-skilling caused by automation. “There’s virtually nothing,” Roberts said.