Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on October 2 in Ottawa the creation of a national artificial intelligence council to provide independent, practical advice on Canada’s AI transition. According to ChainCatcher, the council will bring together public- and private-sector stakeholders to advise on the evolution of the AI for All national strategy, including faster adoption, the development of national champions, sovereign AI infrastructure, and stronger AI safety measures.

The council’s members include Ajay Agrawal, Yoshua Bengio, Sanja Fidler, John Graham, Gillian Hadfield, Jordan Jacobs, Eric Lamarre, Valérie Pisano, Senator Thomas Pitfield, Jody Thomas, Louis Vachon, Michelle Zatlyn, and Patrick Pichette. It will be supported by a small team in the Privy Council Office, while policy decisions and implementation will remain with the relevant ministers and departments.

Carney said countries that can build, adopt, and govern AI on their own terms will be best positioned for prosperity and sovereignty in the AI era. He said the council will advise on managing risks, capturing opportunities, and improving life for all Canadians.