Canada launches “AI for All” strategy: What it means for Atlantic Canada

From the Springboard Content Lab

• Canada has launched AI for All, its new national artificial intelligence strategy.
• The strategy aims to create 250,000 jobs by 2031 and increase GDP by approximately 3 percent.
• A new $500 million technology fund will support Canadian AI companies and commercialization efforts.
• Priorities include AI adoption, workforce development, public trust, digital infrastructure, and support for Canadian innovation.

The Government of Canada has launched AI for All, a new national artificial intelligence strategy designed to accelerate AI adoption, strengthen Canadian technology companies, build public trust in AI, and improve economic productivity across the country.

The strategy is expected to create 250,000 jobs by 2031 while increasing Canada’s GDP by approximately three percent through greater AI adoption and innovation.

A new $500 million technology fund will help support the growth of Canadian AI companies and strengthen Canada’s position in the global AI economy.

“AI is here. The question is whether it will improve the lives of all Canadians or benefit only a few. AI can shorten our emergency room wait times and make a small business more competitive if it is governed by Canadian values with a clear goal of improving the lives of all Canadians. That’s why we need an ambitious new strategy: AI for All. We will build trust so that all Canadians are empowered to use this technology safely and with confidence. AI that builds Canada strong for all: that is our mission.”

The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

Key pillars of AI for All: trust, opportunity, sovereignty

Pillar 1: Protecting Canadians and safeguarding our democracy

AI will only deliver on its promise if Canadians trust it. That requires modern privacy and online safety laws, strong national AI safety capabilities, and secure government systems.

Pillar 2: Empowering Canadians

Canada must become an AI skills nation, where AI creates good jobs for Canadians by giving access to AI training and education for all Canadians, and by representing and including Canadian voices, languages, and culture. 

Pillar 3: Powering AI adoption for shared prosperity

The gains of AI will come from putting it to work across the Canadian economy and developing pro-worker, industrial AI technologies. AI for All will support accelerated adoption among SMEs and transform public service delivery for better services to Canadians.

Pillar 4: Building the Canadian sovereign AI foundation

AI for All will support the building of sovereign compute infrastructure at scale — resilient, sustainable, and under Canadian governance, and grow Canada’s exceptional AI researchers and talent pool.

Pillar 5: Scaling Canadian champions

To scale great AI companies in Canada, AI for All will unlock growth capital and leverage government as a strategic anchor customer.

Pillar 6: Building trusted partnerships and global alliances

Canada will work with a variety of trusted partners to align standards, co-invest in innovation, and help Canadian companies access global markets — while shaping an AI ecosystem anchored in democratic values.

“Canada’s new AI for All Strategy is about putting artificial intelligence to work for Canadians. It will give people the confidence to use AI safely, help businesses adopt it, and ensure more of the value is created here at home. This is how we protect people, grow our economy, reflect our values, and deliver real benefits in everyday life.”

The Hon. Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation

Why this matters for Atlantic Canada

Atlantic Canada is already home to research expertise in artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, ocean technology, health innovation, and digital technologies. Through collaboration among post-secondary institutions, industry, and government, the region has built a strong foundation for AI innovation.

The federal strategy aligns closely with the strengths of the Springboard network, which connects 19 post-secondary institutions across Atlantic Canada to accelerate research commercialization, industry partnerships, and innovation-driven economic growth.

From research excellence to economic impact

A central theme of AI for All is turning Canada’s research leadership into economic outcomes. Canada has long been recognized as a global leader in AI research, but policymakers have increasingly emphasized the need to commercialize discoveries, scale Canadian companies, and retain intellectual property within Canada.

This focus mirrors Springboard Atlantic’s mission: helping researchers move innovations from laboratories into the marketplace through industry engagement, intellectual property support, and commercialization services.

By connecting businesses with research expertise across Atlantic Canada’s universities and colleges, Springboard helps ensure that innovations developed in the region can generate economic benefits, create jobs, and improve competitiveness.

Building Canada’s AI workforce

The federal government has also highlighted workforce development and AI literacy as key priorities. As AI transforms industries across the economy, demand for highly skilled graduates, researchers, and technology professionals is expected to grow rapidly.

Atlantic Canada’s universities and colleges already play a critical role in preparing the next generation of talent through programs in computer science, engineering, data analytics, business innovation, and applied research.

Continued collaboration between academia and industry will be essential to ensuring that businesses of all sizes can adopt AI technologies and remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy.

About Springboard Atlantic

Springboard Atlantic is a network of 19 post-secondary institutions across Atlantic Canada that helps researchers, businesses, and communities turn research into economic and social impact through collaboration, commercialization, and innovation partnerships.