Canada is home to some of the world’s top AI researchers and a vibrant start-up scene. But when it comes to using AI, especially in the sectors that matter most to our economic future, we are falling behind. In afrom KPMG, Canada ranked near the bottom among advanced economies (28 out of 30) in AI literacy and training.
Globally, governments are seizing on an undeniably transformative moment in the global economy. In 2024, Chinaa US$47.5 billion (CA$65.9 billion) semiconductor fund and the U.S.59 new AI regulations in 2024, doubling their 2023 number. This past February, France€109 billion (CA$176 billion) from foreign and domestic companies investing in AI projects in France. Canada? We$2.4 billion. Respectable but modest by comparison.
If Canada wants to compete, we need to play to our strengths: our people.
That means universal AI literacy and real access to AI tools. And not just for our high-tech workers. Every main street business, mom-and-pop shop and government worker needs to understand how to use AI. That will mean we need every high school, college, polytechnic, and university student to get their hands on AI, fast.
AI is already reshaping how we work, innovate and live. The question is whether Canadians will lead that transformation or be left scrambling to catch up.
As leaders of two post-secondary institutions committed to preparing the next generation, we urge the federal government to articulate a bold, distinctly Canadian AI strategy: one that focuses not just on infrastructure and investment, but on inclusion, talent and long-term national capacity.
In other words, a distinctly Canadian vision.
Much like health care and the child benefit, every Canadian deserves to have basic AI literacy and appropriate access to AI tools. We need policies that incentivize the uptake of AI tools across sectors, addressing barriers such as cost, technical expertise and organizational inertia.
Canada is now making those first steps.
As Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced, the federal government intends to strategically deploy AI to boost public sector productivity, an overdue but vital step. The mandate letter for his cabinet, which includes the introduction of Canada’s first-ever Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, rightly emphasizes the importance of AI education and training to national prosperity.
This comes at a time when Canada is poised for historic investments in infrastructure that will reshape everything from our energy systems to housing and national security. But as former Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge has warned, Canada is playing catch-up. If we want AI to truly serve the public good, and not just private platforms, we need to move with urgency, clarity and scale that matches the speed of technological change.
Crucial to making that happen is the cultivation of a skilled workforce ready to critically embrace the opportunities AI offers.
Post-secondary institutions such as ours will play a key role in this charge. But universities, polytechnics and colleges also need collaboration from employers in designing courses and programs that reflect the demands of an AI-driven economy, equipping students and professionals alike with the knowledge and tools to excel. By working together with businesses and governments, our schools can train and upskill existing and future workforces.
This isn’t something for the tech schools to go it alone on. AI can help every industry. Whether it’s automating the call outs to pick up your repaired lawn mower or driving big data analytics, there is no corner of the economy that should stay untouched by the new digital tools that emerge literally every day.
Canada must leverage the world-class research ecosystem we’ve already invested in by fostering stronger connections between higher education and business, ensuring that innovation does not remain confined to labs but translates into real-world applications. This is already happening in some parts of the economy but this focus needs to be scaled across the country and reach deeper into all sectors. While many small businesses may have the greatest opportunity to benefit, they often have the least amount of resources to take advantage of these tools. Post-secondary institutions like ours can support such firms with access to both tools and talent.
Innovations from startups can also help with general AI adoption. University of Waterloo professor Jimmy Lin is the chief scientist at recently launched, a company whose tag line is “Every AI for everyone” aims to make AI tools more trustworthy and accessible to regular consumers.
A responsible AI vision will be inclusive, striving to give all Canadians timely access to the education and training needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy. Canada’s post-secondary sector will play an essential role in preparing our workforce to meet this moment,improving productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability. Our efforts will help everybody and by equipping all Canadians with AI skills and infusing all Canadian businesses with AI solutions, we can help close the gap between where we are today and where we must be tomorrow to continue to have a healthy and prosperous Canada.
There are both big opportunities and big challenges on the horizon. Now, we need a big vision to ensure Canada comes out ahead.
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