OTTAWA — Canada's government released a national artificial intelligence strategy on Thursday, outlining a ten-year plan with C$2 billion in funding. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the strategy, which aims to increase AI literacy and scale AI use in businesses and government.
The plan identifies protecting Canadian sovereignty and reducing reliance on foreign AI providers as key objectives. The strategy notes that Canadian companies store sensitive data in foreign jurisdictions and acknowledges that the United States has been a more attractive destination for Canadian AI entrepreneurs. Carney said AI is already changing how people work, learn, and connect. He said, "AI could be weaponised against us."
The government plans to build a secure public supercomputer for Canadian researchers and businesses. It also intends to support the construction of large-scale AI data centers for Canadian clients, aiming to increase computing capacity by 2030. The strategy will fund research fellowships and increase AI-focused research chairs at Canadian universities. To attract skilled foreign AI workers, Canada will offer accelerated entry and permanent residency.
The government will pledge C$500 million in investments to Canadian AI companies, which are intended to allow the government to take equity stakes. The strategy projects the creation of 250,000 jobs through AI scaling across sectors. However, the strategy does not quantify potential job losses resulting from rapid AI adoption. Government data indicates 12% of Canadian businesses used AI between mid-2024 and mid-2025; the government plans to increase this to 60% by 2034. Another C$500 million in financing will help businesses implement AI tools.
The strategy also allocates C$50 million for creators to incorporate AI into their work and dedicates C$200 million to improving healthcare outcomes using AI, specifically to reduce administrative burdens on physicians. Carney said nearly three-quarters of EU countries are already using AI-assisted diagnostics to support medical imaging and to detect disease. Government polling shows 34% of Canadians believe AI is good for society, while 36% believe it is harmful, and the strategy reports that half of Canadians regard AI as a threat to humanity. A global study by KPMG and the University of Melbourne found Canada ranks low in AI training, literacy, and trust. In response, the government will launch a national AI literacy initiative, partnering with public libraries to provide entry-level AI training.
Member of Parliament Melissa Lantsman said, "The safety and security that was promised in this is nowhere to be found in the document, certainly no details." Canadian officials summoned OpenAI executives to Ottawa for discussions, indicating new regulations would be considered if the company did not promptly update its safety protocols. The company's chief executive Sam Altman issued an apology for its handling of the suspect's activity.
No independent assessment was available for this report.