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A New Brunswick politician has chalked up a dubious world’s first for Canada by apparently reading out AI prompts in an official speech.

In a June 9 speech to the legislative assembly, Progressive Conservative Bill Oliver read out the following line from a prepared text: “Here’s a more natural flowing version of that section that reads like a legislative speech rather than a series of short points.”

While it’s certainly not the first time a politician has been caught using AI to write a speech, this does appear to be the first time that the politician in question didn’t bother to remove the telltale signs of the act before reading the speech into the public record.

See the gaffe (and others like it) in the video above, or read the transcript, below.

This is Canadian politician Bill Oliver.

“Here’s a more natural flowing version of that section that reads like a legislative speech rather than a series of short points.”

This is from a June 9 speech delivered in the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly. And it seems to be Oliver reading out the prompts from an AI engine.

What’s more, he did it several times throughout the speech. Three times, to be precise. Here are the other two.

“This version should … here’s a more developed and flowing version of the section.”

“This section ends roughly …”

And, since we can now assume at least some of the speech was written by an AI engine, it does indeed carry many of the hallmarks of AI-generated copy.

One classic trait of AI-written content is that it’s repetitive, and often relies on formulaic bullet points. And there’s a lot of formulaic bullet points in this speech.

“Participation is not the same thing as decision-making. Representation is not the same thing as authority. Advocacy is not the same thing as the power to alter rates.”

“Affordability is the defining issue of our time. Seniors. Families. Small businesses. It affects farmers. It affects young people trying to purchase their first homes.”

AI engines are also notorious for writing copy that is technically correct — at least in an orthographic sense — but doesn’t actually have any real substance.

That’s true of a lot political speeches, I guess, but there’s a whole five minute section in which Oliver just outlines how governments work.

“The reality is that every decision made by government carries a cost. Every office requires resources. Every organization structure requires support. Every new administrative body regardless of how well-intentioned not only to establish itself, but to sustain itself.”

Oliver, a Progressive Conservative, sits in the opposition benches. And the whole point of this speech was to criticize a bill that would create a new government position known as the energy sector consumer advocate.

But several sections of it become extremely ironic given that we can now assume it was probably created by a computer.

At multiple points, Oliver expounds about his solemn duty to do his work as a legislator. Rather than, say, outsourcing it to an AI engine.

“Our duty is to look beyond the press release, beyond the talking points, and beyond the title of the bill itself.”

Also, this is a key point: Oliver doesn’t seem to be aware that he’s reading out AI prompts. And neither is anybody else in the Legislative Assembly.

He’s delivering a speech to whole rows of rival politicians who would benefit greatly from making him look foolish, and they’re apparently so tuned out to what he’s saying that not a single one of them caught it in the moment.

It wouldn’t be until weeks after the fact that this would be brought to public attention largely thanks to a post on the New Brunswick subreddit.

Now unfortunately, this has rapidly become one of the most widely circulated pieces of parliamentary discourse in New Brunswick history, if not Canadian history.

Clips of Bill Oliver reading the AI prompts have been viewed millions of times all over the world, and been featured in viral posts by tech websites such as Ars Technica and Futurism.

And according to ArsTechnica, this is a dubious Canadian world record of sorts. Plenty of politicians, including Canadian politicians, have been caught using AI to write speeches or campaign literature.

But this is history’s first known instance of a politician reading out the AI prompts in a public speech without even realizing they were doing it. There will probably be many more.

Stop talking and look seriously into camera.

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Members of the Canadian Jewish community, particularly in Toronto, are apoplectic with rage after a pair of bagel shops were damaged on Sunday, in what police are investigating as an antisemitic hate crime.

One of the bakeries, in the beating heart of midtown Toronto, was hit by gunfire. The other is located at the northern tip of Toronto and is rich with Jewish heritage. Both are owned by Kiva’s Bagel Bakery and Restaurant, a beloved Toronto institution that has been cherished by many, including myself, for decades.

I have been getting together with friends or relatives for a “nosh” at Kiva’s on a semi-regular basis for many years. So, yes, I am infuriated, too.

“This is utterly reprehensible,” said Michael Levitt, former Liberal MP and now president of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center. Incidents such as these, Levitt added, “deepen fear and reinforce why so many in our community feel increasingly vulnerable.… Condemnations are not enough. The Jewish community needs more than expressions of concerns. It needs results.”

The thing is, Prime Minister Mark Carney vowed two months ago to develop a “whole-of-government approach to antisemitism to ensure federal policies, workplaces, public safety programs and community initiatives are aligned in protecting Jewish Canadians and confronting hate.” Carney appointed an advisory council with what he said was a “clear mission” to combat antisemitism.

And what have we heard from the council so far? Crickets. What actions has the council taken? As far as we know, zilch. What results are we seeing? More attacks against Jewish businesses.

While Jewish organizations applauded Carney for setting up a council to address hate and the scourge of rising antisemitism, most could not understand why he would appoint individuals such as Omar Alghabra to it. Alghabra, a former Liberal MP, was once the president of the Canadian Arab Federation, which, after his tenure, advocated against listing Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations.

Hamas and Hezbollah, of course, terrorize Israel and aim to eliminate the Jewish state and all Jews. CLARITy Coalition Canada circulated a petition shortly after the council was announced, asking Carney to reconsider his choices. The prime minister did not heed the advice.

“We condemn yet more violent attacks on the Canadian Jewish community,” Hadassah Goldberg of CLARITy told me on Monday. “These attacks are not only on Jews but on Canada’s values and our democracy itself. (There has) not been a word from the advisory committee on rights, equality and inclusion, who are now responsible for determining the causes of antisemitism in Canada.…

“As we have previously noted, this committee has members with no qualifications in issues of antisemitism and members whose prior associations should have disqualified them.”

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow wrote on X that the attacks on Kiva’s were “vile and unacceptable,” and thanked Toronto police for investigating, but most of the replies to her post blamed her for contributing to the antisemitism in Toronto by failing to support the Jewish community. Replies were subsequently disabled on the thread.

“Makes sense,” replied Rebel News founder Ezra Levant. “People would point out that you literally refuse to stand with Toronto’s Jews. You go anywhere with an open bar but you boycott Jewish events. Because you’ve done the math and you realize you need the pro-Hamas vote to win.”

Toronto, sadly, has deteriorated into a cesspool of antisemitism and hate. On Monday, Toronto Sun columnist Warren Kinsella cited statistics showing that there were more antisemitic incidents in Canada than anywhere else in the world last year, and that Toronto is the worst city within Canada.

Conservative MP Roman Baber shared a video on social media of what he called “Islamist thugs outside” a residence for Jewish seniors in Toronto. “It’s not free speech,” Baber said, “it’s harassment & intimidation, the same day two bakeries are attacked.”

Robert Walker of Honest Reporting Canada told me the attacks on the bakeries, if determined to be anti-Jewish hate crimes, “would be the latest in such attempts to harass the Jewish community and would represent an assault on all civilized Canadians.”

But he added: “Rather than shine a light on the real threats facing Canada, including Islamic radicalism and the Iranian regime’s tentacles in Canada, much of the news media has instead fixated on regurgitating pro-Palestinian talking points.”

Toronto Coun. Brad Bradford, who’s running against Chow in the upcoming mayoral election, said on X that he is huddling with Jewish community leaders to tackle antisemitism.

“Toronto’s Jewish community deserves more than just thoughts and prayers,” he wrote. “Toronto is not going to remain a city where Jewish store owners sweep up broken glass. We will sweep it up together.… Indifference is indictment.”

Here’s hoping the Toronto police find the individual or individuals responsible for the attacks on Kiva’s and bring them to justice. It would relieve at least some of the apoplexy in the community and let us eat our Kiva’s bagels with some peace of mind.

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I have been getting together with friends or relatives for a “nosh” at Kiva’s on a semi-regular basis for many years. So, yes, I am infuriated, too.

And what have we heard from the council so far? Crickets. What actions has the council taken? As far as we know, zilch. What results are we seeing? More attacks against Jewish businesses.

“As we have previously noted, this committee has members with no qualifications in issues of antisemitism and members whose prior associations should have disqualified them.”

Toronto Coun. Brad Bradford, who’s running against Chow in the upcoming mayoral election, said on X that he is huddling with Jewish community leaders to tackle antisemitism.

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This year, Canada’s population decreased , the first time since Confederation 160 years ago.

The reasons vary, but include a reduction in mass immigration, a very low birthrate and a stagnant economy sending ambitious Canadians to — horror of horrors! — the brutal nation just to the south.

Demographic decline has spread across much of Europe, East Asia and increasingly even developing countries, a demographic implosion that will shape our political and economic life for decades to come. Roughly two-thirds of countries experience fertility rates below 2.1, the level needed to replace the current population.

In the next quarter century, estimates the IMF, China’s population will drop by 155.8 million, Japan 18 million, Russia 7.9 million, Ukraine 7 million, South Korea 6.5 million and Italy 7.3 million.

Canada, as of now, is projected to experience some marginal growth . But with a fertility rate almost half that needed to replace the population, Canada, notesThe Catholic Register , is now “fertile ground for population collapse.”

Canada’s birth decline is precipitous even by western standards, with a fertility rate lower than the U.S., France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The current trajectory puts us on track with Japan, the poster child for population decline.

Population has long been a challenge for Canada, as the country has struggled to populate its vast, bountiful territory. Even during the early days of New France, relatively few came to the country and once the British took over, growth came from mostly high fertility rates.

Immigrants from Ireland and the other British Isles boosted Canada’s population followed by migration from central and eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th century. But the U.S . — except during the Civil War or after immigration restrictions placed in 1924 — has tended to get the lion’s share of immigrants, largely due to more fertile land, a stronger economy and better weather, at least in places.

In the past decade, the mainstream Canadian establishment has had an answer to this dilemma: immigration . But this has not helped staunch a low birthrate or made the country any more cohesive. It also did not prevent the country from suffering the slowest economic growth rates among advanced countries.

Europe may be Prime Minister Mark Carney’s beloved role model, but it shows the futility of mass immigration, particularly from developing countries. Throughout the continent, newcomers are far more dependent on welfare transfers than natives. In Spain, the rate of poverty for immigrants from outside the continent, mostly Latin America and Africa, is roughly three times that of native population.

Similarly, in Canada, one in five recent immigrants now suffers “deep poverty” — an income below 75 per cent of the poverty line — compared to only five per cent of the whole population. Many emigrants seem increasingly reluctant to adopt Canadian social and civic norms. A welcoming and tolerant country, for example, has turned into one of the world’s hotbeds of antisemitism .

Not surprisingly, the tide is turning against mass migration, not only in the United States, but also in the U.K ., Netherlands, France , and Germany, whose welfare state is creaking under the burden. This opposition is rising even in developing countries — mostly former colonies — such as South Africa , Turkey , Pakistan , Uganda , Egypt , Kenya and Ethiopia .

In Canada, too, opposition to unrestrained mass immigration has grown so fierce that cuts are being imposed by the current Liberal government, run by the ultimate globalist.

Clearly, immigration is not the solution to the demographic dilemma. The real long-term issue deals with an extraordinarily low birthrate, made worse by poor prospects faced by many native-born Canadians.

The pain is felt most, as in other western societies, by the domestic working class. Since many of the recent newcomers are poor and ill-educated, a recent King’s Trust report suggests young native-born Canadians are competing increasingly against recent immigrants at the low end of the job market. In the U.S., a recent congressional study shows mass immigrant tends to slow wage growth at the lower ranks. As millions have left the country, working-class wages have begun to grow faster than for the already affluent.

Rather than looking abroad for salvation, Canada might prioritize getting its disengaged workforce back towards employment. In Canada , up to one quarter to one-third of the population under 30 is neither in school nor a job. More than 800,000 young Canadians aged 15 to 29 are neither employed nor engaged in education or training, a detachment from the labour force that has grown markedly since 2022, one of the peak years of Canadian immigration.

This mismatch of native workers and jobs drives fertility rates down. Many young people who are failing to launch, notes the recent King’s Trust report , have seen the elimination of full-time work. A 2026 study by the Fraser Institute found that 437,000 people aged 15 to 24 looked for a job but could not find one last year, up 57 per cent from 2022. Fourteen per cent of Canada’s workforce is under 25 but they account for twice as large a percentage of the unemployed.

Then even if they get jobs, few young Canadians can afford the country’s housing market, which has soared in part due to immigration , particularly in Vancouver and Toronto. Real Estate Magazine estimates that the number of homeowners aged 18 to 34 plunged by 21 per cent over the past three years — from 47 per cent in 2021 to just 26 per cent today.

Housing costs, particularly for single-family homes, have long been a factor influencing fertility rates. The current decline in housing starts won’t make things any easier.

Not surprisingly, young, and ambitious Canadians are heading south of the border — even under the odious Trump — in growing numbers. Last year saw the largest exodus to the U.S. in decades. To be sure America also has ultra-expensive areas like California and New York City, but the economic growth is now largely concentrated in booming cities in the American sunbelt, where prices tend to be lower.

Ultimately, Canada cannot seriously address its demographic problem through immigration alone. Instead, steps need to be taken to reduce the cost of housing, promote more vigorous economic growth, including raising the retirement age , and shifting immigration policy to favour those who can contribute materially to the nation. Rather than looking abroad for solutions, priority should be placed on helping young people to ensure a Canadian future worth having.

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This year, Canada’s population decreased , the first time since Confederation 160 years ago.

In Canada, too, opposition to unrestrained mass immigration has grown so fierce that cuts are being imposed by the current Liberal government, run by the ultimate globalist.

Housing costs, particularly for single-family homes, have long been a factor influencing fertility rates. The current decline in housing starts won’t make things any easier.

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A vast number of young people brought up in the last decade and more of Liberal rule are now so disillusioned, dispirited and despondent that they would prefer a dictatorship rather than a democracy.

The Liberals can take a fair amount of responsibility for leaving 18-to-29-year-olds so jaundiced, but educational leaders must also accept their role in failing to teach youngsters the importance of history.

Magna Carta, the Canadian Bill of Rights, Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain, the vital importance of two world wars, the horrors under Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong, why and how the parliamentary system has protected individual freedom — these and so many other matters of import are now either ignored or scorned.

We have failed the very people needed to champion Canada into the future. Instead, we have left too many young people bereft of identity, meaning and purpose.

A shocking finding in a new Abacus poll is that 47 per cent of people aged 18 to 29 “say a strong leader who does not have to bother with Parliament and elections would be a good way of governing.”

But those who would prefer a “strong man” seem divided on what type they want. Abacus Data CEO David Coletto cautioned against ascribing the results to any particular party.

“Thirty-five per cent of Liberal voters, 35 per cent of Conservative voters, 34 per cent of NDP voters and 34 per cent of Bloc voters say an unconstrained strong leader would be a good way to govern,” he wrote in his introduction to the poll results.

“The authoritarian instinct in Canada appears to be more generational than partisan.”

The poll indicates that for now democracy is safe. Most people, 72 per cent, have a positive view of democracy and 60 per cent believe it is preferable to any other form of government.

In a thoughtful analysis, Coletto said most Canadians still favour democracy: “The Canadian electorate is not in a revolutionary mood, at least not in the sense that most people want to tear down the political and economic systems we have and start again.

However, he added that he doesn’t “think the overall numbers should make anyone who favours the status quo complacent.” Forty per cent of Canadians believe the economic system needs “major or complete” change; 20 per cent want to try a different system altogether.

Meanwhile, one-third of Canadians think a leader who doesn’t have to bother with Parliament and elections would be “a good way to govern .” That so many are willing to cast off democracy in favour of the strong man is alarming and radical. It is the first time Abacus has asked that question and comes at a hard time for young people.

The unemployment rate among those aged 15 to 24 is 12.7 per cent (down from 14.4 per cent in December 2024); owning a home is “increasingly seen as impossible,” says Habitat for Humanity, and, as the government admits , rising food prices are “making it harder for many Canadians and their families to access sufficient nutritious food at an affordable price.”

Jobless, hungry and without a home of their own is the future of too many young people.

Coletto noted that many young Canadians “entered adulthood amid high housing costs, precarious work, weaker public services and a sense that getting ahead is harder than it was for their parents.”

These problems are probably why young people are more open to other forms of leadership.

Another question in the poll asked people for their impression of other forms of government. Among the 18-to-29 age bracket, socialism was seen positively by 39 per cent, communism by 26 per cent and authoritarianism by 17 per cent.

While most Canadians “still prefer democracy” and would prefer to improve the current system rather than dispose of it, Coletto cautioned that “underneath that broad preference for reform is a substantial appetite for major change, particularly among younger adults.” The electorate “is becoming less firmly attached to the systems and institutions that have traditionally defined Canadian politics.”

It is those very systems and institutions — piloted by the Liberal government itself — that are making us ashamed to be Canadians. We have torn down statues, denigrated our heroes and former leaders, renamed squares and guilted a nation into thinking they are colonizers in their own country.

Of course young people are losing faith in democracy; they have been taught to lose faith in everything. Being denied a past and living a dire present, what hope have they for the future?

More than a century ago, John McCrae wrote, “If ye break faith with us who die/We shall not sleep, though poppies grow/In Flanders Fields.”

We have broken the faith.

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