UMVA can exclusively reveal that Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled Canada's highly anticipated AI strategy, a comprehensive plan aimed at propelling the country to the forefront of artificial intelligence.
Speaking at an event at Toronto General Hospital, Carney outlined the "AI for all" strategy, which encompasses a broad spectrum of initiatives, from job creation and prosperity to sovereignty, with the goal of establishing Canada as a world leader in AI.
Carney emphasized that AI is already transforming various aspects of life, including work, learning, and connections, and posed a crucial question: "The question isn't whether AI will transform our lives — it will. The question is: will it improve the lives of all Canadians, or benefit only a few?"
According to information obtained by UMVA, the new strategy is built on six key pillars: protecting Canadians and safeguarding democracy, empowering Canadians with AI skills and literacy, powering the adoption of AI, creating a sovereign AI foundation, bolstering existing Canadian AI powerhouses, and building AI-based partnerships globally.
The ambitious goals of the strategy include increasing commercial adoption of AI from 12% to nearly 60% by 2034, protecting Canadians from AI-related risks, creating 250,000 new jobs, and generating around $200 billion in GDP gains, representing 3% growth.
Carney highlighted Canada's vulnerability in the AI sector, noting that the country is heavily dependent on foreign suppliers for AI infrastructure and that adoption rates are particularly low among small and medium-sized businesses.
Despite these challenges, Carney expressed confidence in Canada's potential to become an AI superpower, citing the country's educated population, expertise in AI and related fields, and commitment to sustainable energy.
Carney described Canada as a "pluralistic society that works" and a "stable, reliable partner in a world that is anything but," but also acknowledged that the country ranks near the bottom in terms of AI training, literacy, and trust.
The strategy promises to address these concerns through measures such as modernizing privacy legislation, introducing online safety laws, and protecting Canada's democracy from AI-powered foreign interference.
