Photo: Cole Burston The Canadian Press The objective of these new investments in AI is to allow Canada “to remain a world leader in AI and be at the cutting edge of new technologies,” explained Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The Canadian Press
April 7, 2024
- Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made another pre-budget announcement on Sunday, this time to unveil measures totaling $2.4 billion “to build the Canadian advantage” in artificial intelligence (AI) .
These investments aim to accelerate job growth in the Canadian AI sector, helping companies develop and adopt AI in key sectors, such as agriculture, healthcare and manufacturing. The goal is to allow Canada “to remain a world leader in AI and be at the cutting edge of new technologies.”
Mr. Trudeau made the announcement at a press conference on Sunday in Montreal, where he met with professionals to discuss innovation promoting economic growth.
Of this amount, $2 billion will be used to develop the necessary technological infrastructure. A new Fund for access to computing power for AI will be launched to offer short-term support to researchers and industry.
The federal government also plans to develop a new Canadian Strategy on Sovereign Computing Power for AI to stimulate the development of Canadian-owned and located AI infrastructure.
Sunday's announcement also plans to invest $100 million in an aid program for small and medium-sized businesses and $50 million in the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, for training and acquisition of new skills for workers in potentially affected sectors and communities.
It also provides an envelope of 50 million for the creation of the new Canadian Artificial Intelligence Security Institute, in order to promote the secure development and deployment of AI.
Furthermore, the Trudeau government intends to strengthen the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act, by investing 5.1 million in the Commission for Artificial Intelligence and Data.
The sums allocated for the measures announced on Sunday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are found in the 2024 federal budget which will be tabled on April 16 in the House of Commons by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
In 2022-2023, more than 140,000 professionals were actively working in the field of AI in Canada, an increase of 29% compared to the previous year, according to government data.< /p>