Provincial AI Policies: Where Does Your School Board Stand?

I’ve been trying to compile information about AI policies from different Canadian provinces and school boards, and the variation is striking. Here’s what I’ve gathered so far, and I’d love to hear from educators in boards I haven’t covered.

Ontario has been relatively proactive. The Ministry of Education released guidance documents acknowledging AI as a tool that can support learning when used appropriately. Several large boards like TDSB and Ottawa-Carleton have developed their own frameworks. These generally allow AI as a learning tool while prohibiting it for assessment submissions unless explicitly permitted by the teacher.

British Columbia’s approach has been more school-by-school. The BC Teachers’ Federation has pushed for clearer provincial guidelines, but as of now, individual districts are making their own calls. Some Vancouver-area schools have comprehensive policies, while others have nothing formal in place.

Alberta seems to be taking a wait-and-see approach at the provincial level. I’ve heard from teachers in Edmonton and Calgary that their boards have discussed AI but haven’t issued binding policies. Teachers are largely left to set their own classroom rules.

Quebec has the additional complexity of language. Many AI tools perform differently in French than in English, and AI detection tools are significantly less reliable for French text. Some CEGEP instructors have told me they can’t meaningfully use AI detection on French-language submissions.

Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Atlantic provinces are in various early stages. If you teach in any of these provinces, I’d especially love to hear what’s happening at your board level.

The lack of consistency concerns me. Students in one district can use AI freely while students in the next district over face suspension for the same behavior. We need at minimum some provincial-level baseline guidelines.

What’s happening in your school board?