Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon discusses Canada’s digital strategy emphasizing cybersecurity, privacy, trust, and responsible innovation in this Q&A.
As Canada’s first-ever Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, how are you weaving trust, privacy, and digital safety into the broader AI and digital innovation agenda?
Trust has to be the foundation of Canada’s AI strategy. Canadians need to know their data is secure, their privacy is protected, and that the systems they use are built responsibly. That’s why we’re investing in sovereign data centres and secure cloud services — so Canadians can trust where their information is stored.
We also funded and launched the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute to study the risks of advanced AI and make sure those systems earn the trust of Canadians before they’re deployed.
How is your ministry facilitating collaboration between government and the private sector to co-develop secure, responsible AI and digital technologies?
Last November, the Government of Canada launched the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (CAISI) with the mandate to advance scientific understanding of the risks associated with the most advanced AI systems, develop measures to reduce those risks and build trust to foster AI innovation. Yoshua Bengio, is the Chair of the Safe and Secure AI Group at CAISI and he is bringing his expertise and inside look from MILA to this collaborative group connecting academics, industry, and government.
What support are you providing to help small businesses adopt AI safely and responsibly, despite limited in-house expertise?
For small businesses, AI can feel daunting — and trust is key to adoption. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in programs that connect them with Canada’s AI talent, research, and commercialization expertise.
This is where my two roles coincide, where the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario plays a role in helping small businesses grow. The goal is simple: give small businesses the tools and confidence they need to scale up and impact our economy.
How is your ministry helping develop a workforce that’s both technically skilled and aligned with Canada’s digital innovation priorities?
Canada’s digital future depends on people. We’re investing in skills so Canadians can not only use AI, but also question it, shape it, and deploy it responsibly. We announced AI-literacy funding to help upskill workers last week in Alberta. Our goal is a workforce that’s not just AI-ready, but trusted by Canadians to use these technologies responsibly and in line with our values.
What initiatives are you prioritizing for next year to link AI innovation with Canada’s commitment to cyber resilience and public trust?
Our focus is simple: innovation must go hand in hand with trust. We will expand Canada’s secure digital infrastructure so Canadians’ data stays protected here at home. We’ll harness the role and expertise of the AI Safety Institute so that advanced systems are tested and trusted before they reach the public. And we’ll strengthen privacy protections to give Canadians confidence that their information is safe in the digital age.
