Key Takeaways:
- Canada’s first minister of artificial intelligence, Evan Solomon, aims to master AI on the country’s own terms.
- The Canadian government is investing in AI and emerging technologies to boost the economy and productivity.
- A national strategy on AI is set to be released in January, focusing on access to computational resources, customers, capital, and talent.
- The government is supporting Canadian companies, including Cohere Inc., to build AI models and create specialized AI software and tools.
- Canada is seeking to define and build digital sovereignty while navigating the role of American companies and technologies in the country.
Introduction to Canada’s AI Strategy
Canada’s first minister of artificial intelligence, Evan Solomon, has a clear mission: to master AI on the country’s own terms. With the rise of AI, Solomon believes that Canada needs to take a proactive approach to harness its potential and mitigate its risks. To achieve this, the Canadian government is investing in AI and emerging technologies, such as quantum computing, to boost the economy and productivity. In December 2025, Solomon launched the Canadian Quantum Champions Program, which will fund four Canadian quantum companies with up to $92 million to keep companies, talent, and intellectual property anchored in the country.
The Role of AI in Canada’s Economy
The Carney government is betting on AI and emerging technologies to lift Canada out of its economic and productivity doldrums. Solomon believes that AI will be vitally important to the world in every way, shape, and form. However, big questions still hang over the promise of AI, including concerns about job displacement, personal privacy, and societal stability. A recent poll found that 61% of Canadians believe that AI threatens jobs, personal privacy, and societal stability, while only 39% see it as a powerful tool to improve society. Despite these concerns, Solomon is confident that Canada can become an innovation superpower by navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.
Building Trust and Sovereignty
To build trust in AI, Solomon’s prescription involves time and trust, a formula he has seen work before. In the 1990s, Solomon co-founded Shift, a tech-focused magazine that covered the internet boom. He likens AI’s current trajectory to the internet’s ascent, with similar characteristics of enthusiasm, anxiety, and opportunities for growth. The government is taking a pragmatic approach to AI, rejecting both the cheerleader and dystopian approaches. Instead, Solomon believes that Canada needs to master AI and do it on its own terms. The government is also seeking to define and build digital sovereignty, with varying requirements for different types of data.
Supporting Canadian Companies
The government is supporting Canadian companies, including Cohere Inc., to build AI models and create specialized AI software and tools. Cohere is a startup that builds AI models for businesses and has the potential to be a Canadian champion. The government has allocated $240 million from its $2-billion sovereign AI compute program toward a multi-billion-dollar data centre in Toronto, whose anchor tenant will be Cohere. However, some groups have argued that federal funds should not be used to subsidize foreign firms, and the government is navigating the role of American companies and technologies in Canada.
Partnerships and Global Cooperation
Partnerships matter more than ever, including with the U.S. The government is seeking to avoid reliance on one customer and is open to trade with other countries, including the U.S. The upcoming renegotiation of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) could have a significant bearing on technology, but Solomon is not ready to go there yet. Instead, he is focusing on Canada’s legislation, strategic goals, and investments. The government is also deepening its global partnerships with core allies, including the U.S., the EU, and the United Arab Emirates.
Conclusion and Future Plans
In the year ahead, Solomon said Canada will make progress on strategic AI and quantum goals and deepen its global partnerships. The government will release a new national strategy on AI, define digital sovereignty, and make progress on data centre plays. Solomon believes that Canada can best compete by building, buying, and investing in Canada. The Canadian way will be the pragmatic, calculated, safe, yet innovative way forward. With a focus on keeping people safe, getting jobs, and educating the workforce, Canada is poised to become a leader in AI and emerging technologies.