Prime Minister Mark Carney has officially introduced Canada’s highly anticipated AI strategy, aiming to promote widespread adoption while sparking concerns about potential job losses for Canadians. The strategy, which was recently disclosed by CBC News after obtaining a draft version, outlines various ambitions, including safeguarding citizens and children from AI-related risks and boosting AI literacy by providing free training to one million post-secondary students.
Key goals outlined in the strategy include creating up to 90,000 new AI-related job opportunities for young Canadians and supporting the establishment of around 250,000 jobs through AI adoption by 2031. Additionally, the plan aims to increase Canada’s business adoption of AI from 12% to 60% by 2034 and develop a leading supercomputer by 2031.
The strategy pledges a minimum of $2 billion in new investments to achieve these objectives. Industry leaders, such as Valérie Pisano, the CEO of Montreal’s Mila AI institute, praised the strategy as “ambitious” and a significant step towards making AI accessible to all Canadians.
However, opposition parties have criticized the strategy, particularly concerning its potential impact on employment. Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman expressed doubts about the government’s ability to create jobs for young individuals, citing existing high youth unemployment rates. NDP MP Don Davies raised concerns that widespread AI adoption could lead to job losses without adequate measures in place to address this issue.
The strategy places a strong emphasis on AI literacy through a National Literacy Initiative, offering entry-level training for all Canadians, including educators. It also includes programs to assist young people in finding employment amidst AI disruptions and plans to assess training offerings for mid-career workers in skilled trades.
While some Canadian labor groups find the measures insufficient, others welcomed the strategy and expressed readiness to collaborate with the government. The strategy also addresses AI safety concerns, including investments in the Canadian AI Safety Institute and the establishment of a trusted AI certification program.
To boost AI utilization among small and medium-sized businesses, the strategy proposes leveraging programs like the Business Development Bank of Canada’s LIFT program and investing in the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative. Moreover, Canada plans to enhance the AI Compute Access Fund and launch the AI Missions Program to address societal needs, with an initial focus on improving health outcomes.
The federal government intends to establish a $500-million Canadian Tech Growth Fund to support promising AI firms and leverage the recently announced sovereign wealth fund to assist Canadian champions. The strategy also underlines Canada’s pursuit of a sovereign AI ecosystem and plans to invest in a world-leading public supercomputer and data centers.
In the realm of talent attraction and retention, Canada aims to expand its network of national AI institutes, increase the number of Canada CIFAR AI Chairs, and enhance programs to facilitate the entry of skilled AI workers and retain talent through permanent residency measures.
Overall, the AI strategy sets ambitious goals for Canada’s AI landscape, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to harnessing AI’s potential while mitigating potential risks and challenges.