AI Policy

Canadian Literature Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

This policy on artificial intelligence (“Policy”) is based on a guide and template published by the Canadian Association of Learned Journals (CALJ) on March 12, 2026.

Canadian Literature (the “Journal”) reserves the right, at our discretion, to decline or retract submissions, peer review reports, and other editorial content that the Editor and/or staff suspect, at their sole discretion, has been authored using generative artificial intelligence technology (“GenAI”) or Large Language Models (“LLMs”) (for example, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Claude, and other comparable tools).

SCOPE, DEFINITIONS, AND FRAMEWORK

This Policy applies to GenAI and LLMs: tools that generate new text, images, audio, code, or other content in response to a user prompt. It does not apply to routine, non-generative software that does not author content—for example, spell-and-grammar checkers, reference managers, or speech-to-text transcription tools (such as Otter.ai) used to transcribe recordings. Where such tools include generative features, those features are treated as GenAI under this Policy.

AUTHORS

I. Authorship

GenAI and LLMs cannot be an author or co-author for the purposes of publication in the Journal. Human authors are solely responsible and accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the entire manuscript. In the event of ambiguity or uncertainty regarding GenAI or LLM usage, authors should contact the Journal to discuss.

II. Manuscript Preparation

Permissible Use: The Journal does not permit the use of GenAI or LLMs to author or substantively generate scholarly content—including drafting, rewriting, summarizing, or analyzing text on the author’s behalf. Limited assistive use (for example, spelling, grammar, or language-editing support) is not prohibited but must be disclosed and the author remains solely responsible for the final text.

Disclosure Requirements: Use of GenAI or LLMs must be disclosed in detail at the time of submission in a statement that clearly indicates:

  • Names and versions of the GenAI or LLM tools used.
  • Specific task the tools performed (e.g., "summarizing data," "drafting portions of the introduction," “language proofing”). Undisclosed use identified after acceptance or publication may be addressed under the Process and Consequences section below.

III. Images, Figures, and Artwork 

Permissible Use: None for creative or scholarly images, figures, and artwork.

This includes the use of GenAI or LLMs to create, replicate, or manipulate images, figures (including tables, charts, graphs, etc.), artwork, captions, and alternate/descriptive text. As an exception, GenAI may be used to help draft alternate text or captions, provided there is human review and finalization of said text and that use of GenAI is disclosed.

Disclosure Requirements: Any use of GenAI or LLMs must be disclosed in detail at the time of submission in a statement that clearly indicates:

  • Names and versions of the GenAI or LLM tools used.
  • Specific task the tools performed (e.g., "generating captions,” “writing alternate text”).

PEER REVIEWERS, GUEST EDITORS, AND PROOFREADERS

Peer reviewers, guest editors, and proofreaders must not upload any part of a manuscript, proof, or any other unpublished material into a GenAI or LLM tool. Uploading manuscripts and other unpublished materials violates authors’ confidentiality and proprietary rights.

Disclosure Requirements: Any use of GenAI or LLMs must be disclosed in clear detail at the time of report submission. Peer reviewers, guest editors, and proofreaders are fully responsible and accountable for the content, accuracy, and integrity of their work.

PROCESS AND CONSEQUENCES

Where the Journal has concerns about undisclosed or prohibited GenAI or LLM use, it may, at its discretion, request clarification from the author or reviewer, decline the submission or peer-review or, after publication, issue a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction, consistent with COPE (Committee on Publishing Ethics) guidance. Final decisions rest solely with the editors.

EFFECTIVE DATE AND REVIEW

Effective date: September 29, 2026. Last updated: September 29, 2026.
Owner: [The Journal].

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