Artificial intelligence ecosystem

The government launched the Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems, which enables Canadian companies to demonstrate that they are developing and using generative AI systems responsibly. These measures will help strengthen Canadians' confidence in the technology.

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat published the Guide on the use of generative artificial intelligence, which outlines how the use of AI is being managed within the Government of Canada. It also identifies best practices on using generative AI tools in day-to-day activities, along with the risks and benefits, to ensure the technology is being used responsibly and appropriately.

In addition, as part of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, Canada is funding work to develop AI-related standards through the Standards Council of Canada.

Canada is also playing a leading role on the world stage in ensuring that the use of AI reflects Canadian values, such as the protection of human rights and democracy. For example, Canada is collaborating with like-minded international partners through its participation in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).

• 2024 GPAI Summit Declaration

The Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence is a central reference point to draw on leading AI experts from Canadian industry, civil society, academia and government.

Through the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the Government of Canada is investing in efforts to drive the adoption of AI across Canada's economy and society. In bridging Canada's world-class talent and research capacity through programs focused on commercialization and adoption, the strategy is also helping ensure that Canadian ideas and knowledge are mobilized and commercialized here at home.

Phase I

The first phase of the strategy was launched in 2017 under the leadership of CIFAR (Canadian Institute for Advanced Research), with the goal of strengthening Canada's talent base and global competitiveness in AI research.

Since then, CIFAR has been working with Canada's national artificial intelligence institutes—Amii (Edmonton), Mila (Montréal) and the Vector Institute (Toronto and Waterloo)—to attract, retain and develop top AI talent in Canada. CIFAR has also been working with the institutes to support institutional collaboration, research programs and training efforts.

Phase II

In the second phase of the strategy, launched in 2022, CIFAR continues to play a lead role in supporting AI research and talent in Canada. This includes the ongoing administration of the Canada CIFAR AI Chairs program, a nationwide initiative introduced during the first phase to provide dedicated support for recruiting and retaining top researchers.

In addition, the strategy includes investments in the Global Innovation Clusters and the national artificial intelligence institutes to help drive AI adoption and commercialization, the Digital Research Alliance of Canada to provide dedicated computing capacity for AI researchers, and the Standards Council of Canada to advance the development and adoption of AI-related standards.

The Government of Canada's Budget 2024 commitments to secure Canada's AI advantage include the following measures:

• investing $2 billion to build and provide access to computing capabilities and technological infrastructure for Canada's world-leading AI researchers, start-ups and scale-ups through a new AI Compute Access Fund and Canadian AI Sovereign Compute Strategy;
• boosting AI start-ups through $200 million in support from Canada's regional development agencies;
• investing $100 million in National Research Council Canada's (NRC) AI Assist Program to help small and medium-sized businesses scale up and increase productivity by building and deploying new AI solutions;
• supporting workers who may be impacted by AI, such as those in creative industries, with $50 million over four years through the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program;
• creating a new Canadian AI Safety Institute, with a $50 million investment, to further the safe development and deployment of AI; and
• providing $3.5 million over two years to advance Canada's leadership role in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).

The next chapter of Canada's AI leadership

More than 11,000 Canadians from across the country and 28 AI Strategy Task Force members shared their ideas to help shape the next chapter of Canada's AI leadership. We heard from individuals and organizations alike, with representation across several industries and sectors.

Consultation on Artificial Intelligence Compute

As part of Budget 2024 investments to secure Canada's AI advantage, two new AI Compute initiatives will be launched to provide Canadian researchers and AI companies with the tools needed to be competitive in a rapidly advancing global landscape. This consultation is to help inform the design and implementation of the AI Compute Access Fund and the Canadian AI Sovereign Compute Strategy.

ISED will hold discussions with, and seek input from a wide range of AI stakeholders, including businesses, researchers, research organizations, academics, not-for-profits, post-secondary organizations start-ups, SMEs, MNEs, Indigenous groups, provincial and territorial government as well as international partners.

Canada First Research Excellence Fund

The Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) helps postsecondary institutions excel globally in research areas that create long-term economic advantages for Canada, like IVADO's robust, reasoned and responsible AI (R3AI) project. To learn more, consult the CFREF 2022 Competition Results.

Federal research funding

The Government of Canada supports scientific research, research infrastructure and research networks. Canada's federal research granting agencies—the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada—help researchers make discoveries and create knowledge that benefit Canadians and the world. In 2021–22 alone, the granting agencies provided nearly $200 million to support research and training in artificial intelligence.

As demand for AI compute infrastructure increases exponentially, growing Canada's digital infrastructure has become central in ensuring the nation stays globally competitive and a leader in AI.

Enabling large-scale sovereign AI data centres

As part of Budget 2025 initiatives, ISED will identify promising AI infrastructure projects to grow Canada's digital infrastructure and support homegrown AI solutions.

Learn more: Enabling large-scale sovereign AI data centres.

Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy

The Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy will ensure that Canadian businesses, innovators and researchers have access to the compute capacity they need to drive research and develop made-in-Canada AI solutions across all sectors of the economy.