Overview
The federal government has launched a national artificial intelligence plan, AI for All, that the administration says is designed to generate up to $200 billion in economic growth while backing AI startups with both grant funding and equity investments over the next five years. Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced the strategy, which lays out targets for adoption, workforce expansion and infrastructure investment.
Adoption and jobs targets
AI for All sets an explicit target to raise the share of Canadian businesses using AI from 12% to 60% by 2034. The plan also aims to create 250,000 new jobs tied to AI-related activity. As part of the same initiative, the government will provide up to 90,000 AI-related jobs and work placement opportunities specifically for young Canadians.
Infrastructure and support for domestic firms
The strategy includes a commitment to build a public AI supercomputer and to invest in sovereign compute and cloud infrastructure. It lays out measures intended to support homegrown AI companies by improving access to growth capital, positioning government procurement as a strategic anchor customer, and helping Canadian firms obtain compute resources and intellectual property protections.
Skills, education and mission-focused programs
The government will establish a National AI Literacy Initiative that offers entry-level AI training for all Canadians. The initiative is expected to reach 1 million post-secondary students and train more than 3,000 educators. Separately, the plan launches an AI Missions Program; its first mission will focus on health, aiming to accelerate AI adoption in diagnostics and patient care.
Consultations and international engagement
The announcement follows national consultations held in 2025 that produced more than 11,000 submissions from workers, entrepreneurs, researchers, students and community leaders. The government also said Canada has signed AI agreements and joint statements with 12 countries since March 2025, including Australia, the European Union, Germany, India, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
What the plan emphasizes
- Direct financial support for startups through funding and equity investments over five years.
- Targeted increases in business adoption and workforce development efforts, coupled with a national training initiative.
- Investment in sovereign compute and a public supercomputer alongside procurement and IP measures to bolster domestic companies.
The strategy presents a coordinated approach combining capital, procurement, infrastructure and training to increase AI uptake across the economy.