Federal government reveals new AI strategy today

Prime Minister Mark Carney is unveiling the federal government's formal artificial intelligence strategy today in Toronto — a blueprint intended to guide Canada's tech sector as machine learning tools reshape the economy.

Carney will tour an AI institute and meet with researchers as he rolls out the plan, which the government says will address trust, worker empowerment, and building Canadian capacity.

Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon said earlier this week that the strategy will emphasize building public trust in AI, empowering workers affected by automation, and strengthening Canada's competitive position. The government plans to anchor trust through new privacy and online safety laws — measures Solomon has said will be essential elements.

The full strategy is expected to address sovereign digital infrastructure (keeping critical AI systems on Canadian soil), support for homegrown companies, international coordination on AI governance, and training and education for Canadians entering an AI-driven job market.

The timing is significant. Governments, businesses, and civil society worldwide are wrestling with rapid AI development and its risks — from misinformation to labour displacement. Meanwhile, Canada is facing a wave of new hyperscale data centres, particularly in Alberta, that will power AI training and inference. Public concern is growing: polling shows 68 per cent of Canadians would oppose a large AI data centre being built near their homes.

Solomon has pushed back against both AI doomers and over-hypers, calling for a balanced approach that "builds trust" while enabling innovation. Today's announcement will test how the government intends to thread that needle — allowing rapid technological expansion while protecting workers, communities, and privacy rights.