COPE

Supports a Pause on AI

COPE has provided us with the following statement regarding their stance on AI in schools.

• COPE is opposed to the 2026 spring implementation of Microsoft Copilot at VSB, including the use of GenAI and chatbots in Vancouver schools.
• COPE will put a pause on the use of GenAI and chatbots.
• COPE will engage and consult with stakeholders and the broader community to implement a technology audit with a specific focus on the use of AI in schools.
• COPE will engage and consult with stakeholders and the broader community to create VSB policies and procedures to address the concerns below:
  • Safety and privacy for students
  • Impact of AI usage on learning outcomes
  • Impact of AI usage on student mental health
  • Equity of technology resources
  • Need for transparent and robust consultation with stakeholders and community on AI usage and adoption in schools.
  • Impact on the use of and validity of results when AI is used for public engagement and consultation.
  • Impact on climate and the environment of AI usage and adoption
  • Lack of student AI usage policies and procedures
  • Lack of staff AI usage policies and procedures
  • VSB practises potentially in conflict with proposed Federal Bill C-34, The Safe Social Media Act

Party website: https://www.votecope.ca/schools

Candidates:

TEAM For A Livable Vancouver

Supports a Pause on AI

TEAM's school board plan has action items that they plan to implement if elected. Number four in the list states:

Pause the rollout of Microsoft Copilot 13+ in secondary schools until research shows that the benefits outweigh the risks, and students, families and educators have been meaningfully consulted

Party website: https://www.voteteam.ca/candidates-2026

Candidates:

Green Party of Vancouver

Has not yet declared their stance

Party website: https://www.vangreens.ca/meet_your_nominees

Candidates:

OneCity Vancouver

Has not yet declared their stance

Party website: https://www.onecityvancouver.ca/our_candidates

Candidates:

Vote Vancouver

Has not yet declared their stance

Party website: https://www.votevancouver.ca/candidates

Candidates:

ABC Vancouver

Has not yet declared their stance

We will be meeting with ABC to discuss their stance.

Party website: https://abcvancouver.ca/abc-team/

Candidates:

Vancouver Liberals

Opposes a Pause on AI

We contacted the Vancouver Liberals to ask them their stance on AI in classrooms. They pointed us to a statement on their website, Where Do Vancouver Parties Stand on AI?:

"Students are going out there and using AI, whether it's part of the curriculum or not," [mayoral candidate Kareem Allam] said. When it's not, Allam added, student outcomes decline as many use the technology to cheat or circumvent their learning.

"Where it's integrated into the curriculum, with ethics, all the oversights that you would expect or want to see, the outcomes for students got better," he said.

That being said, Allam would align with the position of the province and the BC Teachers' Federation on providing students with AI chatbot accounts.

Kareem's claim that where AI is "integrated into the curriculum, with ethics, all the oversights that you would expect or want to see, the outcomes for students got better" is not consistent with research.

Party website: https://www.vancouverliberals.com/candidates_caucus

Candidates: