The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) has launched a Parliamentary Petition urging the government to act swiftly on the regulation of artificial intelligence, especially where the fast-moving technology interacts with professional creation.
“It’s clear most people right now are extremely concerned about artificial intelligence and its many potentially bad outcomes,” said TWUC Chair Kim Fahner. “But writers have already suffered a negative outcome from the technology. We’ve had our work stolen and used without our permission, and without the payment we deserve.”
The Canadian petition is part of a global movement called We’re Better Than This, launched by artists groups in the U.K. It asks for “transparency, clear rules, and effective regulation” so that creative professionals know when our work has been used for training, must have our permission sought, and can establish legal and market conditions for proper licensing and payment for such uses.
“Governments around the world are grappling with regulation for AI,” noted TWUC CEO, John Degen, “and they are also inundated with lobbying from a tech sector that has already shown it will take what it wants when it wants. We are working to make sure artists voices don’t get drowned out by all the noise around AI investments.”
“Authors and artists are really the canaries in the coal mine for how AI may treat the rest of society,” added Fahner. “If you’re worried about what this technology might do, we can say from experience it’s not off to a positive start and must be regulated.”
The Union’s petition was published on the House of Commons petition site on Monday, September 21st, and reached the signature threshold triggering a required government response in just over 24 hours. Any concerned Canadian can add their signature.
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The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) is the national organization of professionally published writers. TWUC was founded in 1973 to work with governments, publishers, booksellers, and readers to improve the conditions of Canadian writers. Now almost 3,000 members strong, TWUC advocates on behalf of writers’ collective interests, and delivers value to members through advocacy, community, and information. TWUC believes in a thriving, diverse Canadian culture that values and supports writers. Learn more at writersunion.ca.
For additional information:
John Degen, Chief Executive Officer
The Writers’ Union of Canada
jdegen@writersunion.ca
DATE: September 24, 2026
