EY Canada Impact Report 2025: AI put to work and sustainability embedded across operations
Operations leaders want proof, not promises. EY Canada's Impact Report 2025 reads like a plan you can execute: Canadian-built AI in production, a workforce trained for it, and measurable sustainability gains across the footprint.
"By embracing AI responsibly, investing in our people or strengthening the ecosystems that drive the economy, we're working alongside clients, colleagues and communities to build a stronger Canada," says Alycia Calvert, EY Canada Chair and CEO.
What operations leaders should note
- Canadian-built AI platform launched: FlexiGenAI
- 75% of the workforce achieved AI literacy
- 400,000 learning hours delivered to nearly 9,000 professionals
- 45 alliances (Microsoft, ServiceNow, Snowflake, SAP, Shopify, and more)
- 28,000 skills-based volunteer hours impacting 1.3 million lives
- 25% reduction in emissions intensity vs. fiscal 2024
- 95% of office space is LEED-certified
- Expanded wellbeing benefit: $1,200; 87% feel free to be themselves; 79% feel safe to voice opinions
AI that informs execution, not slides
EY is using AI internally first, then taking those lessons to clients. FlexiGenAI signals a shift from buying tools to building scalable, proprietary platforms that fit real workflows. For operations, that means faster cycle times, more consistent decisions, and cleaner handoffs-without guessing what will or won't work on the floor.
Ecosystems that reduce handoffs
With 45 alliances-spanning Microsoft, ServiceNow, Snowflake, SAP and Shopify-EY integrates technology and process so data moves once and works everywhere. The outcome for ops teams: fewer swivel-chair moments, clearer ownership, and solutions that connect planning, execution and reporting.
Skills that move KPIs
Nearly 9,000 professionals logged 400,000 learning hours, and 75% reached AI literacy. Training focuses on practical application-prompting, governance, data use, and workflow design-so teams can improve throughput, quality and cost without waiting on a central team to figure it out for them.
If you're building the same capability internally, this curated list of AI courses by job role can help you ramp faster: AI courses by job.
Culture that sustains performance
Expanded wellbeing support ($1,200) and flexible options backstop performance during busy cycles. With 87% of people feeling free to be themselves and 79% safe to speak up, leaders get earlier signals, better ideas and fewer silent failures.
Community and sustainability with measurable progress
Through EY Ripples, teams contributed 28,000 skills-based volunteer hours and reached 1.3 million people-focused on Indigenous reconciliation, sustainable finance and responsible AI adoption. These programs build capability where it creates outsized impact.
On operations and facilities, the firm reduced emissions intensity by 25% from fiscal 2024 and kept 95% of office space in LEED-certified buildings. If you're pressure-testing your own standards, this primer is useful: What LEED certification covers. Employees and partners also engaged in biodiversity efforts, innovation challenges and local initiatives that connect teams to practical climate solutions.
What you can apply now
- Stand up a small internal AI platform (or center of enablement) with clear metrics: cycle time, first-pass yield, and queue aging. Treat use cases like products with owners and feedback loops.
- Publish an AI skills map for each role. Target a baseline literacy rate, then layer role-specific skills (prompting for analysts, automation for PMO, governance for leads).
- Link sustainability to daily ops: facility standards (LEED or equivalent), travel and event policies, supplier dashboards, and quarterly reviews tied to intensity, not just totals.
A note on place
This report reflects work rooted in Toronto and the Traditional Territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat Peoples. Respect for place and community sits alongside performance here.
About EY
EY helps clients address complex issues across assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions in more than 150 countries and territories. Enabled by data, AI and a broad partner network, teams focus on creating value for clients, people, society and the planet with trust at the core.
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