Canada's Draft AI Strategy Targets 50% Business Adoption by 2030
Canada's federal government is preparing to release a national AI strategy that aims to double business adoption of the technology and provide free AI literacy training to all citizens by 2031, according to a draft document obtained by CBC News.
The strategy, titled "AI for All," was presented to cabinet last week but remains subject to revision before its official release. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the plan would be unveiled this week after several months of delays.
Adoption and Skills Training
The draft strategy sets specific targets for 2031. Canada aims to increase business adoption of AI from its current 12 percent to more than 50 percent. The government also plans to create up to 90,000 AI-related job opportunities for young Canadians and support the creation of 250,000 new jobs across the economy through AI adoption.
A national AI literacy initiative would offer entry-level training for all Canadians, with libraries and community organizations bringing instruction into local areas. The government targets training more than 3,000 educators with AI learning kits for classroom use and reaching one million entry-level post-secondary students.
For mid-career workers, the strategy proposes assessing and scaling employer-led training programs, with emphasis on AI-related skills in the skilled trades.
Canada currently ranks very low among 47 countries on AI training and literacy, according to a KPMG-University of Melbourne study cited in the strategy. Small and medium-sized enterprises lag behind Nordic countries, Germany, and France in AI adoption.
Safety and Privacy Protections
The draft strategy commits to modernizing online safety laws to protect children and consumers, though it does not specify what those changes will look like. The federal government has previously indicated it is considering age restrictions for social media and AI chatbots but has made no final decision.
Other protections include new consumer privacy legislation to establish a fundamental right to privacy and safeguard children's information. The government also plans to require watermarking of AI-generated content so Canadians know when they interact with the technology, though the strategy does not explain how it will compel companies to do so.
The Canadian AI Safety Institute will receive tens of millions in funding to expand its capabilities. A new Canada Trusted AI Certification program will help citizens identify trustworthy products.
Support for Businesses
The strategy proposes adding hundreds of millions to the AI Compute Access Fund, which currently has a $300 million budget. Canadian small and medium enterprises lack affordable domestic computing options and often train and deploy models on foreign cloud platforms, sending money and sensitive data abroad, according to the document.
The government plans to establish an AI Literacy and Adoption Assessment tool to help businesses evaluate their readiness for AI adoption. A new Canadian Tech Growth Fund would allow the federal government to take equity stakes in top AI firms to help them reach global markets.
Ottawa will also position itself as a strategic customer for AI solutions through its Buy Canadian policy, providing domestic companies with revenue and references needed for international expansion.
Building Sovereign AI Capacity
Canada's current data centres and cloud offerings are largely foreign-owned and controlled. The strategy calls for building a world-leading public supercomputer and constructing AI data centres capable of scaling to at least 100 megawatts to serve Canadian clients.
The government plans to expand its Sovereign Technology Alliance, launched with Germany in February, to enable secure AI capabilities and create procurement opportunities for domestic companies.
Canada will establish a secure national data platform as a public resource for innovators and launch a Health Sector Data Space linking datasets to strengthen clinical trials and health services research.
To attract and retain talent, the government will invest hundreds of millions to strengthen national AI institutes and increase Canada CIFAR AI Chairs from 130 to nearly 200 researchers. It will also expand the Global Talent Stream permit program to accelerate entry of highly skilled AI workers.
Gaps in the Strategy
The draft strategy is light on implementation details and how the government will protect Canadians from AI harms. The Prime Minister's Office and the AI minister's office declined to comment on the document.
The government plans to track and assess the societal, labour market, and economic impacts of AI through Statistics Canada's Artificial Intelligence and Technology Measurement Program, which received $25 million over six years in the last federal budget.
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