Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled Canada’s national AI strategy on Thursday, describing artificial intelligence as an inevitable force that is “already changing how we work, how we learn, and how we connect.” The plan allocates more than C$2bn ($1.4bn) across programmes spanning computing infrastructure, workforce training, talent recruitment, and sector-specific adoption, with a strong emphasis on health care.
Sovereignty is a central pillar of the strategy. The document notes that Canadian companies store sensitive data in foreign jurisdictions and that Ottawa relies on infrastructure not owned domestically. Carney warned that “AI could be weaponised against us.” The government proposes building a publicly owned supercomputer and supporting the construction of “large-scale AI data centres” for Canadian clients, with a goal of significantly expanding computing capacity by 2030.
Talent retention and recruitment. Canada has struggled to keep its AI pioneers, a problem the strategy calls an “uncomfortable reality.” Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton — often called the “godfather of AI” — sold his company to Google and worked for the U.S. firm for years. Ilya Sutskever, a co-founder of OpenAI, is also Canadian. The plan funds research fellowships and additional AI-focused research chairs at Canadian universities, and offers accelerated permanent residency for highly skilled AI workers from abroad.
Spending and job creation. The strategy includes C$500m in direct investments to Canadian AI companies, with provisions for the government to take equity stakes. It promises 250,000 jobs will be created by scaling AI adoption, but does not quantify the number of jobs that could be lost to automation. Government data cited in the strategy showed only 12% of Canadian businesses used AI between mid-2024 and mid-2025; the plan targets 60% adoption by 2034. An additional C$500m is earmarked for business financing to incorporate AI tools, and C$50m for creators to use AI “on their own terms.”
Health focus. Carney announced the strategy with several Toronto hospital workers behind him. The government is dedicating C$200m to improving health outcomes through AI, including using the technology to “lighten the administrative burden on physicians.” Carney noted that nearly three-quarters of EU countries already use AI-assisted diagnostics for medical imaging and disease detection.
Public trust and literacy. Government polling cited in the strategy shows 34% of Canadians believe AI is good for society and 36% see it as harmful; half consider AI a threat to humanity. Canada ranks low in AI training, literacy, and trust, according to a KPMG University of Melbourne global study cited in the strategy. The government is launching a national AI literacy initiative, partnering with public libraries to offer entry-level AI training to all Canadians.
Regulatory gaps. Ottawa has promised new AI laws to protect consumer privacy and children’s safety but did not specify details or a timeline. Safety concerns gained prominence earlier this year after the suspect in a February mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, had used ChatGPT to discuss gun violence. OpenAI acknowledged being aware of the activity but did not alert law enforcement, prompting CEO Sam Altman to apologise and Ottawa to summon OpenAI executives. Carney said Canada must be “honest about the risk that AI poses to Canadians,” including deepfakes, unsafe chatbots, and AI-generated disinformation.
Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman criticised the strategy for its lack of specifics on safety and security. “The safety and security that was promised in this is nowhere to be found in the document, certainly no details,” Lantsman told reporters.