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Global Index Score

55.09

Global: 25thRegional: 1stIncome Group: 24th

Canada's index score lands +0.9 against the Northern America average (54.2) and +3.0 against High income peers (52.1). It scores ahead of 82% of the 135 economies assessed this edition. Published score 55.1 reflects a URAI adjustment from 57.4 (1 government-misuse evidence item on file) — including "Babel X under Project Wide Awake". The profile rests on 49 documented evidence items spanning policy frameworks, government initiatives and civil society activity.

How Canada Performs Across the Five Dimensions

GIRAI evaluates countries across five core dimensions that capture the social, ethical, and institutional impacts of artificial intelligence.

AI Policy

46.33

Avrg. Score

48.70

Global: 36thRegional: 2nd

Enabling Conditions

86.66

Avrg. Score

79.82

Global: 8thRegional: 1st

Civil Society Engagement

35.90

Avrg. Score

41.97

Global: 23rdRegional: 2nd
1

Inclusion and Diversity

58.92

Index Score

57.59

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 26thRegional: 1st

Canada runs +1.3 against the regional average (57.6) on Inclusion and Diversity. Strongest indicators: Gender Equality (60.1), Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (49.2). Weakest: Children's Rights (29.6). This dimension ranks 26th globally — behind the country's overall position (25th). 12 evidence items on file, including "Guiding principles on diversity of content online (Canada)" and 2 other documented items.

2

Ethics and Sustainability

57.97

Index Score

51.88

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 19thRegional: 1st

Canada runs +6.1 against the regional average (51.9) on Ethics and Sustainability. Strongest indicators: Fairness and Non-discrimination (59.6), Transparency and Explainability (59.3). Weakest: Environmental Impact (37.2), Human Oversight and Determination (49.0). This dimension ranks 19th globally — ahead of the country's overall position (25th). 12 evidence items on file, including "AI Strategy for the Federal Public Service 2025-2027 (Canada)" and 2 other documented items.

3

Labour and Skills

46.13

Index Score

54.77

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 48thRegional: 2nd

Canada runs -8.6 against the regional average (54.8) on Labour and Skills. Strongest indicators: Reskilling/Upskilling Initiatives (67.4), Labour Protections (9.1). Weakest: AI Literacy (0.0). This dimension ranks 48th globally — behind the country's overall position (25th). 6 evidence items on file, including "Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy (Canada)" and 1 other documented items.

4

Trust and Safety

53.10

Index Score

56.16

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 41stRegional: 2nd

Canada runs -3.1 against the regional average (56.2) on Trust and Safety. Strongest indicators: AI-facilitated Misinformation and Violence (46.0), Impact Assessments (40.8). Weakest: Safety and Security (39.8), Access to Redress and Remedy (40.1). This dimension ranks 41st globally — behind the country's overall position (25th). 9 evidence items on file, including "Directive on Automated Decision-Making (Canada)" and 2 other documented items.

5

AI Use in Public Service

70.81

Index Score

66.46

Avrg. Dimension score

Global: 3rdRegional: 1st

Canada runs +4.3 against the regional average (66.5) on AI Use in Public Service. Strongest indicators: Public Disclosure of Government Algorithmic Systems (72.5), Public Procurement (72.5). Weakest: Public Sector Skills Development (55.7). This dimension ranks 3rd globally — ahead of the country's overall position (25th). 10 evidence items on file, including "Directive on Automated Decision-Making (Canada)" and 3 other documented items.

Comparing Results Across Editions

Explore how country performance, scores, and governance indicators have changed between GIRAI editions.

14 indicators

Indicator2024 Edition2026 Edition
Gender EqualityBinding FrameworkBinding Framework
Children's RightsNo FrameworkDraft
Cultural and Linguistic DiversityNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Fairness and Non-discriminationBinding FrameworkBinding Framework
Transparency and ExplainabilityBinding FrameworkBinding Framework
Human Oversight and DeterminationBinding FrameworkBinding Framework
Labour ProtectionsNo FrameworkNo Framework
Reskilling/Upskilling InitiativesNo FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Safety and SecurityNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Access to Redress and RemedyBinding FrameworkBinding Framework
Impact AssessmentsBinding FrameworkBinding Framework
Public Sector Skills DevelopmentNo FrameworkNon-Binding Framework
Public ProcurementNo FrameworkBinding Framework
Government Mechanisms for CSO Inclusion in AI Policy and GovernanceNon-Binding FrameworkNon-Binding Framework

Indicator definitions changed between editions; this table compares evidence presence and status, not directly comparable scores. A — indicates the item is not applicable or was not assessed for that edition.

Compare responsible AI performance

Explore how countries and regions perform across GIRAI's governance dimensions, scores, and structural indicators.

Compare
🇨🇦Canada

55.09

Global 25thRegional 1st
Northern America

54.22

Regional average

Dimension scores

Inclusion and Diversity
Canada
58.9
Northern America
57.6
Ethics and Sustainability
Canada
58.0
Northern America
51.9
Labour and Skills
Canada
46.1
Northern America
54.8
Trust and Safety
Canada
53.1
Northern America
56.2
AI Use in Public Service
Canada
70.8
Northern America
66.5

Indicators

37 of 37
IndicatorCanadaNorthern America
Inclusion and Diversity7
APGender Equality
60.162.6
APChildren's Rights
29.650.8
APCultural and Linguistic Diversity
49.224.6
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Inclusion and Diversity
53.950.0
ECEgalitarian Democracy
73.764.4
ECSocioeconomic Inclusion in Connectivity
88.988.0
ECGender Inclusion in Connectivity
95.197.5
Ethics and Sustainability6
APFairness and Non-discrimination
59.641.2
APTransparency and Explainability
59.348.6
APHuman Oversight and Determination
49.062.7
APEnvironmental Impact
37.223.2
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Ethics and Sustainability
23.142.3
ECEnvironmental Performance
77.759.8
Labour and Skills6
APLabour Protections
9.123.9
APReskilling/Upskilling Initiatives
67.475.6
APAI Literacy
0.034.9
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Labour and Skills
51.346.2
ECLabour Rights
74.556.9
ECPopulation Digital Readiness
96.898.4
Trust and Safety11
APSafety and Security
39.839.3
APAccess to Redress and Remedy
40.134.3
APImpact Assessments
40.854.1
APAI-facilitated Misinformation and Violence
46.052.6
CSOCivil Society Engagement in Trust and Safety
8.835.2
ECData Protection and Privacy
83.479.2
ECData Sharing and Access
93.890.6
ECConsumer Protection
94.393.2
ECCybersecurity
92.896.3
ECRule of Law
88.282.2
ECGlobal Peace
89.467.5
AI Use in Public Service7
APPublic Sector Skills Development
55.747.3
APPublic Disclosure of Government Algorithmic Systems
72.569.4
APPublic Procurement
72.574.7
CSOGovernment Mechanisms for CSO Inclusion in AI Policy and Governance
42.536.3
ECCivil Society Oversight
85.280.5
ECPublic Service Delivery
96.986.9
ECRight to Information
82.178.0
Score adjustment
URAIUnacceptable Risk AI Systems
×0.961 government-misuse item×0.94Regional average
APAI Policy
CSOCSO Engagement
ECEnabling Conditions
Misuse Of AI

Unacceptable Risk AI Systems

Evidence related to government use of AI systems associated with unacceptable-risk categories.

Contact GIRAI
  • Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement

    Babel X under Project Wide Awake

    The Royal Canadian Mounted Police deployed Babel X under Project Wide Awake to collect and analyze large volumes of personal data from social media the dark web geolocation services and private databases for policing purposes. This is a verified deployment as confirmed by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada in its 2024 report. The OPC found that the RCMP’s ongoing collection of personal information was not adequately assessed for legality or compliance and may contravene privacy law with the matter remaining unresolved. The system was in use from at least 2016 and expanded in 2021 continuing into 2024.

    View Trusted Source

What Drives This Performance?

A breakdown of the structural factors shaping this country's score.

AI Policy

National AI strategies, laws, and oversight mechanisms that establish formal governance structures.

Contribution to overall score

48%

Civil society engagement

Participation of academia, advocacy groups, and non-state actors in shaping governance and ensuring accountability.

Contribution to overall score

6%

Enabling conditions

Institutional capacity, rule of law, digital readiness, and labour protections that enable effective governance.

Contribution to overall score

45%

  • Strongest context signal: Public Service Delivery (96.9)
  • Population Digital Readiness (96.8)
  • Gender Inclusion in Connectivity (95.1)

Evidence for Canada

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