Mark Carney’s AI Mandate: Boosting Government Productivity and Putting Canadian Innovation in the Spotlight

Mark Carney Commits to Strategic AI Deployment to Enhance Government Productivity

Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured with King Charles during the throne speech on May 26, has identified large-scale deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) as a key government priority. His recent mandate letter emphasizes the need for the government to become significantly more productive through AI integration.

This direction follows Carney’s campaign focus and aligns with the creation of a dedicated federal ministry for artificial intelligence and digital innovation. The goal is clear: use AI strategically to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the public sector.

AI’s Potential to Transform Government Operations

Zeena Abdulla, head of offensive security and risk advisory for Ontario’s government, recently highlighted at a MaRS Discovery District panel how AI can relieve public servants from repetitive administrative tasks. This would enable staff to focus on complex issues that require human judgment.

“People are so smart and capable, but they’re stuck doing tedious admin,” Abdulla noted. “AI can empower workers and make the government more effective and efficient.”

Zak Hemraj, CEO of Loopio, adds that AI can analyze vast government datasets to surface insights that improve cost management, service delivery, and citizen engagement. However, he stresses the importance of involving humans to guide AI models and carefully define goals to avoid misuse or bias.

Security and ethics are central to AI adoption. Abdulla expressed optimism about federal and provincial AI strategies grounded in ethical frameworks. Ontario’s approach builds on existing human rights, privacy, and accessibility laws to ensure data is anonymized, compartmentalized, and protected.

Additional Tech and Innovation Highlights

Scale Shift Increases Investment in Real Estate Tech

Scale Shift Ventures has provided additional funding to Repliers, a platform supporting creators of real estate websites and apps. The aim is to evolve Repliers into a sector-specific payment-processing solution akin to “Stripe” for real estate.

Governor General’s Innovation Awards Celebrate Canadian Excellence

The 10th annual Governor General’s Innovation Awards recognized six Canadians and organizations making significant contributions:

• Stéphane Germain, founder of emissions-monitoring startup GHGSat
• Dr. Milica Radsic, inventor of a “heart-on-a-chip” for drug testing
• Student Energy, engaging youth globally on sustainable energy
• NORS, a national hotline to prevent substance-use deaths
• Dispersa, using microorganisms to convert food waste into cleaning agents
• ODARA, which uses data to assess risks related to intimate partner violence

Shopify Launches Keyword-Based Online Store Setup

Shopify introduced a new feature enabling merchants to create online stores by entering descriptive keywords. This tool automates layout design and content generation, streamlining e-commerce site creation.

Jim Balsillie to Lead Manitoba’s Tech Innovation Task Force

Former BlackBerry CEO Jim Balsillie has been appointed to head a new group developing a strategic innovation plan for Manitoba. Over the next six months, he will guide efforts to expand the province’s tech sector.

Gander Offers Canadian Social Media Platform

In response to growing concerns around sovereignty and misinformation, Gander has launched a Canadian-owned and hosted social media platform. It promotes user control over feeds and includes tools to flag disinformation. An early access program is currently open for user feedback.

Key Figures and Funding Updates

• 4 billion: Number of people worldwide affected by prolonged extreme heat between May 2024 and May 2025, according to recent research.
• $11 million: Series A funding raised by Toronto biotech startup ProteinQure, which uses AI to identify proteins for new medications.
• $1.8 billion: Valuation of Jane Software, which supports health professionals with billing, scheduling, and online bookings while generating $100 million in annual revenue.

For government professionals interested in how AI can enhance public sector productivity, exploring targeted AI training courses can be valuable. Resources such as Complete AI Training’s government-focused programs offer practical skills relevant to your work.