OTTAWA, CANADA / RankWire.AI / – Prime Minister Mark Carney has formed a national council tasked with providing guidance to Canada regarding artificial intelligence policies and their implementation. This initiative, known as the Prime Minister’s National Council on Artificial Intelligence, commenced its activities following the announcement on October 2, 2026. The council’s responsibilities include advising the federal government on issues related to AI safety, its economic applications, public service integration, and the development of the country’s sovereign technological capacity. In addition, the council will scrutinize aspects such as infrastructure, talent development, research efforts, and the potential risks associated with the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence across Canada.
Bringing together experts from diverse fields including technology, research, finance, government, and national security, the council features notable members such as Yoshua Bengio, Sanja Fidler, Ajay Agrawal, Valérie Pisano, Michelle Zatlyn, along with former national security adviser Jody Thomas. The roster also includes Senator Thomas Pitfield, John Graham, Gillian Hadfield, Jordan Jacobs, Eric Lamarre, and Louis Vachon. Patrick Pichette serves as an ex officio member, and the Privy Council Office will provide a dedicated support team to assist the council’s work.
It is important to note that the council does not possess autonomous authority to craft or enforce federal policies; instead, ministers and government departments retain the power to make decisions and execute approved initiatives. The primary focus of the council’s mandate is to offer advice that can bolster Canada’s broader AI objectives, which encompass promoting AI adoption, fostering public trust, supporting Canadian tech companies, and enhancing domestic infrastructure. Furthermore, the council will address issues related to governance, safety, and safeguarding democratic institutions. Mark Carney’s administration linked this new advisory body directly to the national AI for All framework.
National strategy establishes targets for AI adoption and expansion
Canada launched its AI for All initiative in June 2026 as the country’s overarching artificial intelligence strategy. The plan centers on three main pillars: trust, economic opportunity, and Canadian sovereignty over key capabilities. It encompasses six areas of focus including public safety, skill development, business adoption, sovereign infrastructure, support for domestic companies, and international collaborations. The strategy also emphasizes privacy protection, online safety, and securing government systems. Ottawa has positioned this framework as a unified approach to integrating artificial intelligence throughout both the economy and the public sector.
The government has set ambitious, measurable objectives for this strategy, aiming to increase national AI adoption from slightly over 12% to 60% by 2034, while also striving for an additional C$200 billion in economic growth and the creation of 250,000 AI-related jobs within five years. The plan includes initiatives for up to 90,000 employment opportunities and internships targeted at young Canadians, with a recent commitment of up to C$162 million to fund 10,000 AI-related placements via Mitacs AI Advantage in September.
Digital transformation efforts are integral to Canada’s broader AI objectives
The establishment of the council coincides with Ottawa’s intensified efforts to leverage digital technology within federal services, exemplified by the launch of Digital Transformation Canada in September 2026, a move aimed at modernizing systems and streamlining technology procurement. This organization consolidates functions from Shared Services Canada alongside selected roles from other federal entities, with the goal of enhancing the development, acquisition, and deployment of digital tools across government departments. Patrick Pichette was appointed as chief executive on September 9, 2026, and his position also grants him a role on the national AI council as an ex officio member.
The Prime Minister’s National Council on Artificial Intelligence will serve as a platform for recommendations as the federal AI strategy advances, covering areas such as adoption, workforce needs, public services, infrastructure, safety, and technological capacity within Canada. It will also address governance issues and the protection of democratic institutions from AI-related threats. While federal departments will remain responsible for policy implementation and program administration, the council will function as an advisory entity within that framework, supporting Canada’s AI for All initiative as the central blueprint for the country’s artificial intelligence development.