THUNDER BAY – TECH – Are you worried about Artificial Intelligence? As AI continues to evolve as an ever increasing rate, many Canadians are worried that their job could be replaced by a computer.
That in some cases is possible. One reality perhaps is that AI won’t take your job, but you job could be taken by a person who knows how to effectively use AI.
Artificial intelligence is moving out of the realm of tech labs and into our daily lives, shaping the economy, politics, and how we work.
While this new frontier promises massive opportunity, Canadians are approaching it with caution. The contrast between political leaders’ enthusiasm and public uncertainty may soon define one of the most significant debates in Canada’s future—especially across Northwestern Ontario.
AI Is Here, But Public Trust Isn’t
A recent survey by Abacus Data reveals deep unease among Canadians when it comes to artificial intelligence:
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Only 17% believe that unlocking AI’s full potential will benefit them personally.
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Nearly half of employed Canadians fear that AI might push them into a career change.
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Seven in ten believe some jobs in their industry will vanish due to AI.
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And 34% believe AI will have a mostly negative impact on society.
This isn’t techno-panic—it’s a society trying to prepare for disruption. And it has special relevance in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario, where industries like manufacturing, health care, transportation, and mining could be significantly affected by automation and AI-driven processes.
For mining, AI can be a gamechanger for how companies analyze drilling core samples. The shift is on to where a smartphone image of a core can be uploaded to a server and an AI Program provides the analysis that once was the job of a geo-tech.
Canada’s Skepticism Reflects a Broader Global Anxiety
While countries around the world rush to develop national AI strategies, from the EU to China, Canada lags behind in both public engagement and concrete political action.
Major investments are being made by business, and global leaders are already debating how AI should be governed. Yet, a large portion of the Canadian public remains unconvinced.
This gap could create political vulnerabilities—and opportunities.
United States Vice President J.D. Vance and the Right-Wing AI Playbook
To understand where this conversation might go in Canada, it’s worth watching what’s happening in the U.S.
Earlier this year, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a speech at an international AI summit that outlined a conservative vision for AI policy. His core message was clear:
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AI is an opportunity, not a threat.
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Regulation must not stifle innovation.
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American AI must remain free from foreign control and ideological bias.
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AI should empower workers, not replace them.
This fusion of techno-optimism with populist protectionism could offer a political model that resonates with voters—particularly those in working-class regions who fear being left behind by automation.
It’s a strategy that doesn’t deny the risks but reframes them in terms of national strength and worker empowerment.
Why Northwestern Ontario Needs to Pay Attention
Here in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario, many jobs involve logistics, healthcare, resource extraction, and administration—all areas primed for some level of AI integration. While the risks are real, so too are the opportunities for increased productivity, remote innovation, and new forms of employment.
But local governments and institutions will need to move beyond fear and begin actively preparing the region’s workforce and infrastructure for the AI era. That means:
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Investing in AI literacy and upskilling programs.
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Supporting local businesses in AI adoption.
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Ensuring rural and Indigenous communities aren’t excluded from AI-driven growth.
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And, perhaps most importantly, creating political space for an informed, balanced conversation about the benefits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence.
The Coming Political Fault Lines in Canada’s AI Future
As AI becomes central to economic strategy and governance, we’re likely to see diverging political approaches here in Canada as well—mirroring trends in the U.S.
Will Canadian conservatives embrace AI as a tool for national strength and economic revival?
Will progressives emphasize caution, regulation, and data rights?
Will either side engage meaningfully with the Canadian public’s very real concerns?
Over the coming weeks, we’ll explore these questions, with a focus on what they mean for Thunder Bay and the wider region. AI isn’t just a technological story—it’s becoming a political one. And it’s moving fast.
