AI should help government think — not govern people
AI can help leaders review complex reports, compare alternatives, identify accessibility concerns, test assumptions, examine lifetime costs and preserve institutional knowledge. It does not vote and does not replace experts, public servants or democratic accountability.
The Intellectual Lifeboat
If intelligence becomes infrastructure, access to intelligence becomes a public responsibility. The Lifeboat is the public promise that residents, workers, students, seniors, small businesses, artists and public institutions should not face the intelligence age without training, trusted tools, privacy, human support and ways to challenge consequential decisions.
Stopping blunders before they are built
Major infrastructure should be tested through digital models and a transparent Civic Intelligence Review before irreversible construction begins.
- Walking routes, ramp lengths and vertical travel.
- Elevator failures and accessibility barriers.
- Passenger congestion and emergency evacuation.
- Construction conflicts, maintenance and climate risks.
- Upfront and lifetime costs.
- Clear responsibility across governments and agencies.
Accessibility cannot be something that technically exists on a blueprint. It must work in real life.
For Mayor of Toronto · 2026