Most Canadians want stricter AI rules, while opposition to nearby data centres remains high
As Ottawa prepares to unveil a national artificial intelligence strategy, a new survey suggests Canadians want strong regulatory oversight of the technology but have little confidence that governments can keep up with its rapid evolution.
Research from the Angus Reid Institute found that 68% of Canadians believe governments should impose significant regulations on AI and technology companies, even if doing so slows innovation. By comparison, 16% said AI firms should be allowed to regulate themselves.
The findings arrive as the federal government moves forward with plans to expand AI adoption and infrastructure across the country. However, public concerns appear to extend beyond regulation to the government's ability to manage the technology effectively.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents (74%) said governments are not equipped to regulate AI quickly enough as the technology advances. Just 14% expressed confidence that public institutions can effectively oversee AI development.
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Canadians are also cautious about the federal government's own use of AI. Seven in 10 respondents said Ottawa should take a careful approach to adopting AI because of the potential for unintended consequences, while only 20% supported more aggressive deployment to improve government services and operations.
Job displacement remains a major concern. Forty-five per cent of respondents expect AI to significantly reduce employment opportunities over the next decade, while only 3% believe it will create substantially more jobs. Another 41% anticipate a mix of job gains and losses.
Automated jobs
Public support also appears strong for measures aimed at companies that automate jobs. The survey found that 79% of Canadians agree businesses that replace employees with AI should face higher taxes.
While policymakers have emphasized the need to build domestic AI infrastructure, Canadians remain divided on the benefits and skeptical about local impacts.
Almost half of respondents (46%) said Canada needs domestic AI infrastructure to keep digital services under Canadian control, compared with 25% who disagreed.
However, enthusiasm drops sharply when data centres are proposed close to home. Sixty-eight per cent of Canadians said they would oppose the construction of a large AI data centre within a few blocks of where they live, while only 15% would support such a project.
Opposition spans both urban and rural communities, with 67% of urban residents and 73% of rural residents saying they would be against nearby data centre developments.
The survey also found widespread concerns about environmental and community impacts. Two-thirds of respondents said large AI data centres would be harmful to energy and environmental sustainability, while 63% said they would negatively affect surrounding neighbourhoods and communities.
Economic benefits
Views on the economic benefits of data centres were less clear-cut. Twenty-nine per cent said such facilities would be positive for local businesses and economies, while 36% disagreed. More than one-third remained undecided.
Among potential advantages, Canadians were most likely to cite the country's ability to compete internationally in AI and technology. Thirty-eight per cent viewed data centre investments positively from a competitiveness standpoint, while 20% saw them as a negative.
The findings highlight the challenge facing governments and industry leaders as they seek to position AI as a driver of economic growth while addressing public concerns about regulation, employment, environmental impacts and local development.
The Angus Reid Institute surveyed 1,803 Canadian adults online between May 7 and May 11, 2026. The results were weighted to reflect Canada's adult population. A probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
