Federal government to release AI strategy amid public trust gap
Ottawa's long-awaited AI plan arrives Thursday as Canadians remain among the world's least enthusiastic about the technology. Trust in AI has declined since last year.
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The federal government will release its AI strategy Thursday morning as new polling shows Canadians' enthusiasm for artificial intelligence continues to slip.
AI Minister Evan Solomon said the strategy, titled "AI for All," will focus on unlocking economic potential while rebuilding public trust — which a recent Ipsos report shows is at a global low.
Canada ranks among the world's least-trusting nations on AI. The Ipsos annual AI Monitor, released Wednesday, found that just 26 per cent of Canadians feel excited about AI products and services — down five points from last year. Canada topped the list of countries where citizens expressed nervousness about the technology.
Solomon emphasized the approach will be practical rather than ideological. "I know there's a lot of anxiety and a lot of excitement about AI," he said. "Our plan is very practical, it's very pragmatic. It's not about being a cheerleader, it's not about throwing pitchforks either. It's about building a transparent, practical plan."
Broad pillars of the strategy include ensuring sovereign control of AI technology, supporting adoption across private and public sectors, providing AI literacy training, and protecting children and privacy. The government has also signalled new legislation on online harms and updates to private sector privacy laws will follow.
Solomon said the strategy will address measures to criminalize sexualized AI-generated deepfakes and will consider the technology's labour market impacts.
NDP leader Don Davies criticized the government's pace. "Technology is moving much more rapidly and we don't have any guardrails," he told reporters Tuesday, calling for faster action on safety concerns around AI chatbots and potential mass unemployment risks.
For Calgary and other Canadian cities, the strategy could shape how local businesses adopt AI and how residents are protected as the technology becomes more embedded in daily life.