CIMM – Q-1772 - Inquiry of Ministry – December 05, 2023

Question No: Q-1729

By: Mr. Green (Hamilton Centre)

Date: September 27, 2023

Paul Chiang, M.P.

Question

With regard to the government’s Directive on Automated Decision-Making, since March 4, 2019, broken down by department or agency:

1. did the department conduct any algorithmic impact assessments;
2. what was the conclusion of each assessment in (a), including the (i) information technology or automated decision system assessed, (ii) date the assessment was completed, (iii) impact assessment level results;
3. does the department currently license, subscribe to, or otherwise procure services from an entity that provides artificial intelligence or automated decision-making services;
4. what are the details of all procurement contracts in (c), including the (i) name of the company contracted, (ii) name of the product provided, (iii) amount paid by the department or agency;
5. was the department or any individuals within the department found in non-compliance with the directive; and
6. what consequences were applied for each instance in (e)?

Reply / Réponse

Reply:

Insofar as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is concerned:

(a) and (b) The Department has published seven Algorithmic Impact Assessments (AIA), as summarized in the table below.

(c) and (d) IRCC does not have any contracts with entities that provide artificial intelligence or automated decision-making services that fall within the scope of the Directive on Automated

Decision-Making.

Neither IRCC, nor any individual employee, has been found to be in non-compliance with the Directive. IRCC received a perfect score in the most recent Management Accountability Framework report for the questions pertaining to Directive compliance. Since the introduction of the Directive, IRCC has published more AIAs than any other federal department or agency.

Insofar as the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) is concerned:

IRB has not conducted any algorithmic impact assessments and did not license, subscribe to, or otherwise procure services from an entity that provides artificial intelligence or automated decision-making services for the period from March 4, 2019 to September 27, 2023.