AI in the GC: What We’re Seeing and What Executives Need to Do

Date: October 6, 2026
Type: Online

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future consideration – it is already reshaping how organizations operate, make decisions, manage risk, and deliver services. Across the Government of Canada, executives are increasingly expected to make informed decisions about AI and lead its adoption responsibly.

But what does this mean in practice? What are departments actually experiencing? What challenges are emerging? And what do executives need to do now to prepare their organizations for an AI-enabled future?

Join APEX for a candid conversation with two senior leaders at the centre of the Government of Canada’s AI agenda. Drawing on their government-wide perspectives, Scott Taylor, Director General, Digital Enablement at Shared Services Canada at Shared Services Canada, and Jonathan MacDonald, Director, Responsible Data and AI at the Treasury Board Secretariat, will share what they are seeing across departments, the common pitfalls and concerns they encounter, the opportunities that lie ahead, and the practical actions GC executives can take to advance AI within their organizations.

Whether you are already implementing AI solutions or just beginning to explore where AI can add value, this session will provide practical insights, strategic perspectives, and actionable advice to help you make informed decisions and lead with confidence.

Join us to learn what GC executives need to know, what they need to do, and how they can help shape the future of AI in the public service.

Event Details

Date & Time: October 6, 2026, 12:10 to 12:55 ET

Audience: All Public Service executives across Canada and internationally are invited to attend APEX’s learning events

Cost: Free

Language: This event will be bilingual. Simultaneous interpretation will be available via Wordly, an AI-based interpreting service.

Platform: Participants will attend our virtual event via Teams webinar. A meeting link will be sent once you are registered.

Resources

Recording of the Session

Transcript of the Session

Meet the Speakers

Scott Taylor
Director General, Digital Enablement, Shared Services Canada

Scott Taylor is Director General, Digital Enablement at Shared Services Canada, where he leads initiatives that advance digital transformation and strengthen technology-enabled service delivery across the Government of Canada. He is a seasoned public sector executive with extensive experience in enterprise IT, cybersecurity, service management, and organizational transformation.

Prior to his current role, Scott served as Director General, Security Management and Governance at Shared Services Canada and held senior leadership positions in service delivery, capability development, and enterprise systems management across several federal organizations, including Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Department of National Defence.

Scott is recognized for his collaborative leadership style and commitment to modernizing government services through innovation, security, and client-focused delivery. He holds a Diploma in Computer Science from the Cabot Institute of Applied Arts and Technology and has completed executive education programs at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Jonathan MacDonald
Director, Responsible Data and AI, Treasury Board Secretariat

Jonathan MacDonald is an executive in the Responsible Data and AI team at the Office of the Chief Information Officer at Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) leading the GC policy and strategy files for AI. Recently, he led the development and launch of the AI Strategy for the Canadian Federal Public Service, the first Canadian AI Register, and the latest review of the Directive on Automated Decision-Making.

Prior to this work he was responsible for setting government policy direction for protecting personal information. At TBS, he has championed data ethics through key pan-government digital projects and led the development of new digital-focused privacy tools. Prior to working at TBS, he worked at Fisheries and Oceans Canada where he began his public service career in the privacy and data ethics space and gradually took on various leadership roles in the IM/IT domain.

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