Canada Announces $360 Million AI Growth Fund and National Strategy

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada's national AI strategy on June 4, 2026, including more than C$2 billion in spending and C$500 million in investments to Canadian AI companies that would give the government equity stakes. The strategy promises 250,000 jobs created by scaling up AI across sectors and aims to build a public supercomputer accessible to Canadian researchers and businesses.

Canadian AI sovereignty

• ▪Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that AI could be weaponised against Canada.
• ▪Canada's national AI strategy aims to support the building of large-scale AI data centres to serve Canadian clients with a goal of significantly enhancing computing capacity by 2030.
• ▪Canada's national AI strategy includes more than C$2 billion in spending for programmes to increase AI literacy and scale up AI use by businesses and government.
• ▪Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada's national AI strategy on June 4, 2026.
• ▪Canada's national AI strategy names protecting Canada's sovereignty as a key objective.
• ▪Canada's national AI strategy proposes building a public supercomputer that would be secure and accessible for Canadian researchers and businesses.

AI talent retention

• ▪Canada's national AI strategy acknowledges an uncomfortable reality that the US has been a more attractive place to set up shop for Canadian AI pioneers.
• ▪Canada's national AI strategy promises to fund research fellowships and increase the number of research chairs at Canadian universities focused on AI.
• ▪Canada's national AI strategy pledges C$500 million in investments to Canadian AI companies, which would give the government the chance to take equity stakes.
• ▪Canada's national AI strategy aims to attract highly skilled AI workers from elsewhere by offering them a path to accelerated entry and permanent residency to Canada.

Business AI adoption

• ▪Canada's national AI strategy includes C$50 million for creators to encourage them using AI on their own terms.
• ▪Only 12% of Canadian businesses used AI between mid-2024 and mid-2025, according to government data.
• ▪Canada's national AI strategy promises that 250,000 jobs will be created by scaling up AI across sectors.
• ▪Canada's national AI strategy aims to increase business AI adoption to 60% by 2034.
• ▪Canada's national AI strategy includes C$500 million in financing for businesses to help them incorporate AI tools.

Healthcare AI integration

• ▪Prime Minister Mark Carney noted that nearly three-quarters of EU countries are already using AI-assisted diagnostics to support medical imaging and to detect disease.
• ▪Canada's national AI strategy dedicates C$200 million to improving health outcomes through AI, including by using the technology to lighten the administrative burden on physicians.

Public AI literacy

• ▪Prime Minister Mark Carney said the arrival of AI is inevitable and is already changing how Canadians work, learn, and connect.
• ▪34% of Canadians believe AI is good for society and 36% believe AI is harmful, according to government polling.

AI safety regulation

• ▪Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman criticized Canada's national AI strategy for lacking details on safety and security.

Perspective of Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman

• ▪Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman criticized Canada's national AI strategy for lacking details on safety and security.

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