The federal justice department is using artificial intelligence to predict the outcomes of labour and employment cases involving public-sector workers. 

A team within the department is conducting a pilot project using Toronto-based Blue J Legal’s Employment Foresight tool, which is designed to help legal practitioners find precedents and game out scenarios on issues like worker classification, reasonable notice for a dismissal and disability accommodation. “The Government of Canada is the single biggest employer in the country, so they’re a natural user of this kind of software,” said Benjamin Alarie, the startup’s CEO.