# 2026 BC Provincial Election The provincial government gives some responsibility to school districts to decide what technology is used in schools. However the provincial government has the power to override districts. So where do the BC provincial parties stand on AI in classrooms? ## NDP Until the snap election, the [Minister for Education and Child Care](https://publish.obsidian.md/ai-moratorium/election/sd35-langley) was NDP's Lisa Beare. We petitioned the Ministry of Education to pause AI in schools, in the same way that they had asked schools to remove cell phones from classrooms. After two months and 2000 signatures, we [finally received a reply from the Ministry of Education and Child Care](https://aicaution.ca/news/reply-from-ministry-of-education/). In their reply, they said that it was up to school districts to decide how AI was used in schools: > Keeping students safe is a top priority of the Ministry of Education and Child Care and we recognize AI is becoming more present in classrooms and online spaces across the province. In our email to them we pointed out the [[What science says|scientific studies that show that AI harms learning]]. In their reply, they made sure to point out the _theoretical_ benefits of AI in schools: > I has the potential to support student learning, improve accessibility for students with disabilities and diverse abilities, and enhance school operations; however, these benefits depend on its responsible use. > Any decisions about the use of AI in K-12 classrooms are made at the school and district level by individual teachers and administrators. In the case of cell phones, the Ministry of Education and Child Care issued a directive to schools to remove them from classrooms. In the case of AI, they are refusing to take responsibility. ## Green Party The BC Green Party has [proposed a two-year moratorium on AI in K-12 classrooms](https://bcgreens.ca/announce-plan-to-regulate-ai-and-hold-big-tech-accountable/). The plan includes: > Develop clear, province-wide direction on the safe and ethical use of AI with students, placing a moratorium on AI use in K–12 classrooms until that plan is in place. in detail: > Enact a moratorium on the use of AI in classrooms from K-12 in order to develop a comprehensive response to AI in the classroom, and direction on safe, ethical use of AI with students. This includes protecting privacy, enforceable safeguards, digital literacy support for all educators, and working with the federal government to hold tech companies accountable for ensuring that systems are safe before they reach the classroom. ## Conservative Party We have contacted the BC Conservative Party and have not yet heard back from them.