Background
Earlier today, federal AI Minister Evan Solomon and Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled “AI for All,” Canada’s new AI strategy. The announcement follows months of speculation and delay; the new strategy having been promised much earlier.
Canada’s 2017 “Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy” was groundbreaking at the time, but it has not been enough to keep up with the AI boom. As a result, while Canada remains a global leader in AI research and talent development, in terms of actual AI deployment, it has fallen behind in building internationally competitive businesses. AI for All is a deliberate attempt to alter the course of Canadian AI adoption and establish Canada as the leader of AI for “middle power” countries by translating research strength into commercial success.
Overview
In simple terms, the federal government is going ‘all in’ on AI. The strategy announces a $500 million Canadian Tech Growth Fund, designed to provide capital for Canadian AI companies while allowing the federal government to take equity stakes in those businesses. The move aligns with a broader government strategy of short-term public investments for (hopefully) long term economic gains.
The strategy is organized around three key themes:
- Reducing public skepticism of AI,
- Ensuring AI adoption leads to more opportunities for Canadians, and
- Reinforcing sovereignty.
While many details remain unclear, here’s what we do know:
Building Trust
Public skepticism is seen as a major barrier to AI adoption. As Minister Solomon has put it: “Technology moves at the speed of innovation, but adoption moves at the speed of trust.” To address this, the government proposes:
- Strong privacy protections, including potential legislation to deal with deepfakes and surveillance pricing, alongside a possible new “online safety regime”
- Expanded authority for the Canadian AI Safety Institute to conduct transparent evaluations of AI models.
- Closer collaboration with the Sovereign Technology Alliance to attract investment in Canadian AI.
Expanding Opportunities
The government also seeks to ensure AI “works for all Canadians” and delivers tangible benefits, particularly in response to concerns that data centre infrastructure offers limited local community value.
Key initiatives include:
- AI literacy training and access to “trusted AI agents” for postsecondary students.
- Funding for 90,000 AI-related work placements for young Canadians.
- Assistance for the adoption of AI in “priority sector” small and medium-sized businesses.
- Launch of the “AI Missions Program” with a flagship initiative to accelerate the adoption of AI in diagnostics, patient care, and system efficiency.
Safeguarding Sovereignty
With as much as 85% of the Canadian cloud economy reportedly foreign-owned, AI is increasingly being identified as a threat to national security.
Proposed actions include:
- Building a world-leading supercomputer by 2031 as part of significantly enhanced sovereign infrastructure (no other specifics provided).
- Supporting globally competitive Canadian “AI champions” by improving access to capital, government procurement, and and commercializing resources.
- Expanding Canada’s AI talent base through investments in the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) AI Chairs program and accelerated entry pathways for highly skilled workers through the Global Talent Stream.
What does it mean?
Ultimately, the government expects the strategy to lead to $200 Billion in economic growth and the creation of 250,000 AI-related jobs over the next five years. However, with limited policy details provided within the strategy, it is difficult to assess whether or not those targets are realistic. What is clear is that the Carney government is signalling a major shift: Canada is open to AI-business, with major procurement and investment opportunities coming down the line. For Canadian tech companies, this is a significant opportunity to align with a re-invigorated federal government priority.
What we’ll be looking out for next.
- Changes to federal privacy and data laws.
- Details on how Canadian businesses can access funding from the Canadian Tech Growth Fund.
- Public reception and buy-in.
- Corporate interest and engagement.
- Open or closed-bid procurement opportunities.
- Provincial government responses.
For more information, you can access the full text of “AI for All” here: Canada’s national Artificial Intelligence strategy: AI for All
We’re Here to Help
For more information and insights about what these developments mean for Canada’s political landscape, please contact:
Jeff Sterzuk – President
jeff@prairieskystrategy.ca
403.612.1724
Richard Truscott – Vice-President
richard@prairieskystrategy.ca
403.998.0494
To learn more about Prairie Sky Strategy, please visit our website.
