Who will serve the unmet political needs created by the AI revolution?

I’m been thinking a lot lately about what AI and automation is going to mean for politics.

Recent surveys I’ve done suggest that Canadians are increasingly torn between the promise of technological innovation and the potential disruption it poses for traditional industries and jobs. For example, only 39% think making Canada an AI superpower would make them better off.

Manufacturing, natural resource, retail, public services, and other similar (legacy) sectors have long been the backbone of Canada’s workforce, providing stable employment and a sense of economic security. Yet, the rapid emergence of the “Tech Right”—entrepreneurs and innovators who advocate for freer markets, minimal regulation, and a government that is agile and tech-savvy—is shifting our political conversation. They clearly have influence within Pierre Poilievre’s sphere and he likely shares many of their views. This new faction’s influence raises pressing questions about the future of work, consumer benefits, and the balance between progress and stability.

Historically, Canada’s labour movements and parties, such as the CCF and later the NDP, emerged to protect workers from the upheavals of industrialization. Widespread access to the franchise and the resulting political empowerment helped shape policies around labour rights, social welfare, and equitable growth. Now, rapid advancements in automation and artificial intelligence threaten similar upheavals in a post-industrial economy. Workers in manufacturing and retail may be displaced by technological solutions that promise efficiency and lower costs for consumers. At the same time, these technologies can drive down prices, speed up service delivery, and expand consumer choice.

This paradox—where some benefit from cheaper goods and services while others see their jobs replaced or transformed—creates a new set of political demands.

These include calls for modernized social safety nets, faster reskilling programs, and strategic partnerships between government, industry, and educational institutions. Voters are looking for leadership that can balance the benefits of innovation with the need for job security and social stability. For many, the old “labour vs. business” political framework seems mismatched to the complexities of a tech-driven landscape.

That is where the “Tech Right” offers both potential and peril. On one hand, it brings fresh thinking about how to streamline government services, improve state capacity, and leverage technology to address policy bottlenecks (such as interprovincial trade barriers or immigration backlogs). If done well, consumers and workers could see tangible benefits in the form of more efficient public programs, faster approvals, and new channels for economic growth. On the other hand, these innovators may downplay the disruption their technologies cause in traditional sectors, leaving many workers anxious and unprepared for a shifting economy.

The question facing Canadian politics is whether any existing party or coalition can champion this new social contract: one that embraces tech-driven growth while ensuring that workers and communities are not left behind.

Some Conservatives see an opening to unite pro-market technology enthusiasts with working-class voters by promising job creation in emerging industries. Liberals and New Democrats may attempt to integrate these tech-friendly policies within a broader agenda of equity, environmental sustainability, and worker protections.

What is clear is that a new generation of voters—raised on smartphones and increasingly skeptical of outdated economic models—expects pragmatic solutions that harness technology without sacrificing fairness. Parties that can articulate this balanced vision will have an edge. Whether it emerges from within an existing political movement or spurs the creation of a new one, this alignment of tech-driven optimism with worker-focused policy could reshape Canada’s political landscape in the coming decade.