Canada's National AI Strategy Arriving Next Week
Prime Minister Mark Carney will release the federal government's national AI strategy next week, ending months of delays. Carney made the announcement Wednesday morning before a Liberal caucus meeting.
The strategy will outline Ottawa's approach to AI development and regulation. The government previously identified six pillars that will structure the plan: protecting Canadians and democracy, empowering citizens, accelerating AI adoption, building sovereign AI capabilities, scaling Canadian companies, and forming global partnerships.
The framework also emphasizes AI training access for all Canadians, updated privacy laws, national safety capabilities, and secure government systems.
Industry Expects Growth Signals
Canada's tech executives are watching for signs the strategy will support industry expansion. The country has struggled to compete with the U.S. and other nations in AI talent and company formation.
The federal government is already moving on infrastructure. Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon announced Monday that Telus will build a new AI data centre in British Columbia under the Enabling Large-Scale Sovereign AI Data Centres initiative.
At Web Summit Vancouver earlier this month, Solomon distributed $66 million from the AI Compute Access Fund to 44 Canadian AI projects. The fund has a total budget of $300 million.
Data Centre Plans Face Local Opposition
The government is also backing plans to expand a Telus data centre in Kamloops and develop two new facilities in Vancouver. Vancouver residents protested last week, citing concerns about electricity demand and water consumption.
Telus said the facilities will run on 98 percent clean hydroelectric power and use 90 percent less water than traditional data centres. The company plans to recycle waste energy to heat 150,000 homes and incorporate recycled water from B.C. Place stadium.
A spokesperson for Solomon's office told CBC News that no federal dollars are currently allocated to those projects, though contracts or off-take agreements could be structured later.
Provinces Moving Independently
Manitoba has announced Canada's first social media and AI chatbot ban for children under 16. The federal government said it is considering similar measures.
For executives developing AI strategy, the national framework should clarify Ottawa's priorities on safety, investment, and regulation. AI for Executives & Strategy resources can help teams understand how government policy shapes competitive positioning.
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