NL Minister Gives Tearful Speech Following Backlash Over AI Image That Removed Statue Honouring Veterans

A Newfoundland and Labrador cabinet minister gave a tearful speech in the provincial legislature this week following several days of controversy over her use of artificial intelligence in a social media post.

Tourism Minister Andrea Barbour apologized earlier this week for using generative AI to modify an image of The Rooms provincial art gallery, which she then posted to social media. She told the legislature on April 23 that she continues to be “attacked,” despite her apology.

“There’s a difference between legitimate criticism and sustained personal attack,” Barbour said, referencing the jokes and outrage on social media, as well as repeated questions from the Opposition Liberals. “What I have experienced is beyond politics.”

The picture that sparked the controversy showed an image of the museum, but the statue of the caribou silhouette above the museum’s front door had been removed with AI. The caribou had been placed on the facility in honour of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and the hundreds who died during World War I.

The statue was replaced by text saying, “The Rooms” in the image Barbour posted. The picture was accompanied by a message about the province’s tourism sector and was posted in celebration of National Tourism Week. The image has since been modified online to cut out the AI-generated portion.

Much of criticism centred around Barbour omitting a symbol honouring veterans, as well as for using AI to alter an image rather than hiring a local graphic artist to do the work.

The incident marks the most recent in a succession of AI-related controversies affecting the Newfoundland and Labrador government, though it is the first for the newly elected Progressive Conservatives.

Barbour issued an apology in the legislature on April 22 after Liberal members accused her of slighting artists and veterans. She also received a slew of critical comments on her social media post about her use of AI.

“I did apologize and I do apologize again for using AI in this photo, not content,” she said. “I used AI in a photo and I do regret it. I appreciate and I understand artists… I am an artist, I understand.”

In a 12-minute speech to the legislature again the following day, Barbour said she was disappointed by the conduct of the opposition in the legislature and talked about being bullied throughout her life. She said she had hoped it would be different in the House of Assembly.

She teared up frequently during her delivery and had to pause several times to regain her composure or to wipe her eyes with a tissue.

“Despite my apology, members opposite chose to continue. They chose to press on. They chose to turn an apology into an opportunity for further humiliation,” she said. “There’s a difference between accountability and cruelty.”

Liberal member Lisa Dempster told reporters after Barbour’s speech that she did not think her colleagues had broken any rules with their questions.

She noted that it is the role of the Opposition party to question the government, but added that social media has become a “terrible, terrible place.”

Tory Energy Minister Lloyd Parrott pointed to the former Liberal government’s use of artificial intelligence. Reports submitted to the former Liberal government were found to have citations referring to sources that appeared not to exist. One was prepared by the government’s Education Accord team and the other was prepared for the provincial Health Department by consulting firm Deloitte Canada at a cost of $1.6 million.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.