Canada launches AI Strategy Task Force and opens public consultation
The Task Force brings together experts from academia, industry, and civil society, while Canadians can share their views through the Consulting Canadians portal until 31 October 2025. The government says the strategy will focus on research, innovation, infrastructure, and building public trust in AI.
The Government of Canada has launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy Task Force and a month-long public consultation to inform the development of the country’s next national AI strategy. The announcement was made on September 26, 2025, by Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, during a news conference in Ottawa.
The initiative combines expert input with public feedback to guide Canada’s approach to AI in areas such as research, commercialisation, adoption across industries, digital infrastructure, skills development, and public trust. A 30-day ‘national sprint,’ running from 1 to 31 October, will allow Canadians to share their views through the Consulting Canadians portal.
The Task Force brings together 40 leaders from academia, industry, civil society, and government. Members include researchers from the University of Toronto, University of Alberta, and University of Waterloo, executives from companies such as Coveo and League, and representatives from organisations like the First Nations Technology Council and the Council of Canadian Innovators. Each will consult their networks and provide recommendations in November.
The new strategy follows earlier Canadian investments in AI, including the 2017 Pan-Canadian AI Strategy and the 2024 Sovereign AI Compute Strategy. Since 2017, the federal government has invested approximately CAD $742 million in AI research, infrastructure, and innovation.
Unlike the Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence, which continues to advise the government on long-term issues, the new Task Force has a focused, time-limited mandate to deliver concrete recommendations for Canada’s updated AI strategy.
Civil society groups are included among the Task Force members, ensuring a broader range of perspectives in the consultation. The government emphasised that the next strategy aims to balance economic growth with safe, responsible, and inclusive development of AI in Canada.
