Canada establishes national council to advise on AI strategy

Prime Minister Mark Carney has established the Prime Minister’s National Council on Artificial Intelligence to advise the Canadian government on its ‘AI for All’ strategy. The council, composed of academics, researchers, investors, and industry executives, is tasked with accelerating AI adoption, supporting domestic companies, building sovereign infrastructure, and ensuring AI safety and democratic protection.

While the government seeks expert guidance through this new council, some critics argue that Canada’s innovation ecosystem is already over-saturated with support mechanisms. Analysts suggest that rather than creating new programs, the government should focus on streamlining the existing 134 programs, which are currently described as poorly coordinated and difficult for startups to navigate. Concerns have been raised that the current system rewards those capable of securing government funding rather than those focused on business growth, contributing to a trend where successful Canadian startups are often acquired by American firms or relocate south.