Organizational generative artificial intelligence (AI) policies relevant to Canadian public health are limited in number and scope. This policy scan includes 14 policies across various levels of the public health system, and includes guidance documents, codes of conduct and legislation. Policies focus on safety-based governance and cautious adoption and provide varied guidance on transparency, privacy, oversight and sustainability, but have very limited attention to environmental responsibility and public engagement. The reviewed policies frame equity as fairness, non-discrimination and bias prevention, emphasizing transparency, accountability and harm mitigation. However, they often overlook broader issues, such as community involvement, resulting in compliance-focused solutions that prioritize fairness in decision making without addressing systemic issues. Policies for and approaches to the trustworthy and responsible use of generative AI should be reimagined as proactive, participatory and adaptive measures focused on improving health equity and environmental responsibility.
