Canada Launches National AI Strategy Task Force

AI is rapidly reshaping industries, public services, and global power dynamics and Canada views this moment as a critical turning point.  The government sees a need to reimagine how to harness innovation, build digital sovereignty, and guide AI development in a way that benefits society.‍

What’s being launched?

To guide the next phase of its AI strategy, AI Strategy Task Force has been setup as time-limited group of experts carefully drawn from academia, industry, civil society, and First Nations’ organizations. Members include representatives from leading AI companies such as Cohere and VDURA, alongside researchers and academics. Each member will consult within their networks throughout October 2025, gathering perspectives to provide actionable recommendations on key themes such as research, talent development, industry adoption, commercialization, public trust, education, infrastructure, and security.

In parallel, the government is opening a national public and stakeholder engagement sprint. From October 1 to 31, 2025, Canadians will be able to share their ideas and concerns through the “Consulting Canadians” portal. In November, the task force will publish a summary of the feedback and insights collected, ensuring that the forthcoming AI strategy reflects substantive input from across society

Key themes under consultation‍

The government is seeking input on a broad set of AI-relevant areas:

• Research & talent development 
• Adoption of AI 
• Commercialization & scaling AI companies
• Building safe and trustworthy AI systems
• Education, upskilling, and workforce readiness
• Infrastructure 
• Security and resilience of infrastructure
  

Canada’s AI history & foundation

• Canada was among the first to launch a funded national AI strategy (the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy) to stimulate adoption across sectors. Since 2017, it has invested about CAD 742 million in the AI ecosystem. (Canada.ca)
  
  
• In 2024, Canada introduced a CAD 2 billion “Sovereign AI Compute Strategy” to ensure local access to critical compute infrastructure. (Canada.ca)
  
  
• An Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence, active since 2019, continues to advise the government — but this new Task Force is distinct: mission-focused, time-limited, with a mandate to inform strategy design. (Canada.ca)
  
  

Why this matters for you‍

^{If you’ve always been interested in tech, innovation, AI ethics, public policy, or how technology intersects with society and shapes the way we interact, this is a significant moment. It’s a chance for voices beyond the usual tech corridors to engage. The ideas we put forward now may help shape a future where AI is safer, fairer, and more inclusive in Canada.}

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