A provocative letter to the editor, published on January 9, 2026, calls for a radical overhaul of Canada's judicial system by replacing human judges with artificial intelligence. The submission, from R.J. Moskal of Winnipeg, argues that AI could deliver immediate, unbiased verdicts and end the practice of releasing accused individuals on promises to appear while courts are backlogged.
A Plea for Logic Over Human Fallibility
The writer contends that AI entities, free from human bias and external influence, should be deployed to make logical and legal decisions. The letter states that with AI, court decisions could be rendered the same day, eliminating delays that currently stretch for weeks or months. The author emphasizes that AI cannot be swayed by politics, bribes, or material incentives like lavish vacations or expensive cars, and unlike human judges, it does not draw a salary or collect a pension once created.
The core argument is a direct critique of the current system's speed and perceived susceptibility to corruption. "Letting arrested criminals free on promise to return at a later date (so they can continue their crime spree) because the justice court system is backed up will become a thing of the past," the letter asserts, advocating for immediate legal action facilitated by technology.
Editor's Skeptical Reply and Other Public Voices
The newspaper's editorial team appended a brief, skeptical reply to Moskal's suggestion, noting: "It is going to be a long time before AI will ever be used in this manner. But it would probably give better decisions than the calamities we see dining from the courts today." This response highlights the futuristic nature of the proposal while echoing the writer's frustration with current judicial outcomes.
The same letters page featured other opinions from Canadians. Rick Mitchell from Puslinch, Ontario, criticized political leaders for excessive talk and insufficient action on national building projects, referencing commercials by Mark Carney and Doug Ford. His letter, titled "Lead by Building," pleaded for "shovels in the ground" and real leadership.
Another correspondent, Laura Wright from Bowmanville, Ontario, reflected on a column questioning if society is witnessing a return to the Dark Ages. Wright wondered how to inject social media, popular culture, and politics with "unity, honesty, courage and action," calling it a good question with no easy answer.
The Growing Debate on Technology in Justice
While the use of AI as a full judge remains a speculative concept, this 2026 letter taps into ongoing debates about technology's role in public institutions. Concerns over court backlogs, procedural delays, and calls for greater efficiency and objectivity are persistent issues in Canadian governance. The suggestion to replace human judgment entirely with algorithms presents an extreme but clear solution from a concerned citizen, framing AI as a tool of pure logic against a system viewed as slow and potentially corruptible.
The publication of this letter underscores the range of public sentiment on governance and innovation, from demands for tangible infrastructure projects to philosophical worries about societal decay and radical technological fixes for aged institutions.
