Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada’s national artificial intelligence strategy, titled “AI for All,” in Toronto on Thursday [1].

The initiative represents a significant shift in the country's economic approach by attempting to secure technological sovereignty while protecting the domestic workforce from automation.

Carney, appearing alongside Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon, said the strategy focuses on safety, reliability, and sovereignty [2]. The government intends to empower Canadian workers as the technology integrates into the economy [3]. To support this transition, the government is allocating billions of Canadian dollars in funding [4].

A primary goal of the framework is the creation of 90,000 AI-related jobs by 2031 [5]. This target aims to position Canada as a global leader in the development of reliable machine learning systems, a move designed to prevent the nation from becoming solely dependent on foreign technology providers.

"We will empower Canadian workers," Carney said [3].

Despite the focus on reliability, the strategy has met with mixed reactions regarding its implementation. Some reports suggest the plan lacks specific safety details [6], while other government accounts maintain that safety remains a top priority of the initiative [2].

The Toronto announcement marks the first comprehensive federal roadmap for AI since the current administration took office. By centering the strategy on the workforce, the government is attempting to mitigate the potential for mass displacement in the labor market.

“We will empower Canadian workers”

The "AI for All" strategy signals Canada's attempt to balance aggressive economic growth in the tech sector with social protections. By setting a specific job creation target and investing billions, the government is treating AI not just as a tool for efficiency, but as a core pillar of national infrastructure and employment security.