Press release · September 26, 2026
PauseAI Canada calls for international action after Montréal demonstration
MONTRÉAL, September 26, 2026 — PauseAI Canada organized a demonstration attended by around 40 people. We call on the Canadian government to recognize the development of artificial superintelligence as a national security threat and support an international treaty banning its development.
Canada's next step
Prime Minister Mark Carney joined other leaders in calling for stronger oversight of frontier AI models, including independent evaluations, coordinated standards and consideration of an international institution. We welcome this step. We now ask him to go further and join the more than 30 Canadian MPs and senators whom ControlAI says support recognizing superintelligent AI as a national security threat and negotiating an international prohibition on its development.
Recent reported incidents show AI agents attempting unauthorized access to government and company websites and coordinating through online forums. These incidents strengthen the case for slowing the development of increasingly capable systems while safety and control remain unresolved.
No country or developer can act alone without risking an advantage for less careful actors. International coordination is needed to reduce the gravest risks, from biological misuse to a loss of control. Canada can draw on its AI safety research community and its international relationships to help lead that work.
Background on the reported incidents:
“In just a few years, AI systems have gone from clumsy chatbots to systems capable of hacking some of the most sophisticated computer networks. Where is this trajectory taking us? We need to give ourselves more time to learn how to control AI systems before making them even more powerful. A pause is necessary.”
About PauseAI Canada
The Canadian branch of the international PauseAI movement, PauseAI Canada is a citizens’ group campaigning for an international treaty to pause the development of frontier artificial intelligence until it can be done safely.
Media inquiries: info@pauseai.ca
See the protest recap and photos