Bill Oliver, the Progressive Conservative MLA for Kings Centre, admitted he used artificial intelligence to prepare a speech delivered to the New Brunswick Legislature on June 9. Oliver read AI-generated prompts aloud during a discussion on creating a provincial energy advocate, including phrases where the AI suggested “a more natural-flowing version” of the text.
Bill Oliver Admits to Reading AI Prompts in Legislature
During the June 9 session, Oliver read three distinct instances of AI-generated instructional text. According to reported clips shared on social media, he stated, “Here’s a more natural-flowing version of that section that reads like legislative speech rather than a series of short points,” and later read, “Here’s a more developed and flowing version of the same section.”
Oliver confirmed he used AI for speaking notes during the spring session but failed to remove the prompts before printing. In a written statement to CBC News, Oliver claimed the sentiment of the speech was his own, stating that AI “should never replace our own ability to express our thoughts and convictions.”
Did You Know? The speech in question lasted 40 minutes and focused on whether New Brunswick should establish the position of energy advocate.
Political Reactions and Legislative Impact
Interim PC leader Glen Savoie endorsed Oliver’s response, describing the incident as a “learning experience” and a mistake. Savoie stated that the PC caucus is currently working on an AI policy for its 16 members.
Green MLA Megan Mitton and MLA David Coon called out the phrasing the day the speech was delivered. Mitton claimed the 40-minute speech was “boring” and hindered legislative progress, stating that some bills requiring discussion were not reached because of it.
While the Green caucus adopted an AI policy in March 2026, the Liberal caucus stated via email that it does not currently have a policy regarding members’ use of AI. Mitton expressed opposition to using generative AI in politics, arguing that representatives are elected to use their own thoughts to represent the people.
Academic Warnings on AI Accuracy in Government
Mahtab Sarvmaili, director of the Responsible AI Research Lab at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), warned that large language models like ChatGPT are trained on pre-existing data and require verification. Sarvmaili stated that users cannot be 100 percent sure an answer is accurate or properly grounded in existing resources.
Mario Levesque, a political science professor at Mount Allison University, noted that AI is a tool that requires strict fact-checking and source verification. Levesque expressed concern that AI evolves so quickly that official policies may be outdated by the time they are implemented.
Future Outlook for Legislative AI Policy
The incident may lead to broader adoption of AI guidelines across all parties to prevent the erosion of public trust. A possible next step involves the PC caucus developing its internal policy for its 16 members to ensure representative voices are heard on the floor.
Legislators may face increased scrutiny over the length and origin of speeches if AI use is perceived as slowing down the passage of bills. Academic experts suggest that any responsible adoption of AI in government must prioritize verification, as these tools affect the lives of many people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific AI phrases did Bill Oliver read aloud?
Oliver read phrases such as “Here’s a more natural-flowing version of that section that reads like legislative speech rather than a series of short points” and “Here’s a more developed and flowing version of the same section.”
Which political parties in the New Brunswick Legislature have AI policies?
The Green caucus adopted a policy in March 2026, the PC caucus is currently working on one for its 16 members, and the Liberal caucus stated it does not have a policy.
Why did MLA Megan Mitton criticize the use of AI in this instance?
Mitton argued that the AI-generated speech was boring and that its 40-minute length prevented the legislature from discussing some of the bills that needed to be addressed.
Should elected officials be prohibited from using generative AI to write their legislative speeches?
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