OTTAWA, CANADA / RankWire.AI / – Prime Minister Mark Carney has initiated the formation of a national artificial intelligence council to guide the federal government on AI deployment, safety, and sovereignty concerns. Announced on October 2, 2026, the Prime Minister’s National Council on Artificial Intelligence will serve as an independent source of practical advice during Canada’s implementation of its AI for All national plan. Its scope encompasses economic competitiveness, public services, research, talent development, infrastructure, and the broader oversight of artificial intelligence.
The council’s focus includes strategies for increasing AI integration across sectors while maintaining control over vital technology. It will also offer guidance on Canadian AI firms, sovereign infrastructure, safety protocols, governance issues, and risks to democratic institutions. The government states that the council will facilitate communication among public and private sector stakeholders and identify opportunities for coordinated efforts. Policy decisions and implementation responsibilities will remain with cabinet ministers and federal departments. Support for the council’s activities will come from a small team within the Privy Council Office.
Its membership includes researchers, technology executives, investors, public officials, and specialists in AI safety and oversight. Among its members are Yoshua Bengio, Sanja Fidler, Ajay Agrawal, Valérie Pisano, Michelle Zatlyn, Jody Thomas, and Louis Vachon. The council also counts Senator Thomas Pitfield, John Graham, Gillian Hadfield, Jordan Jacobs, and Eric Lamarre. Patrick Pichette, chief executive of Digital Transformation Canada, participates as an ex officio member. Their backgrounds span research, finance, national security, technology, and public administration.
Linking AI safety to national strategic objectives
Canada launched its AI for All initiative in June 2026 as the foundation of its national AI strategy. The framework emphasizes three core goals: fostering trust, expanding opportunities, and ensuring Canadian sovereignty over key AI capabilities. Its six pillars address public protection, skills development, economic adoption, sovereign infrastructure, Canadian enterprise support, and international collaborations. The strategy also emphasizes enhancing AI safety capacity, updating privacy and online safety regulations, and securing government systems.
Measurable targets accompany the strategy, including increasing AI adoption from just over 12% to 60% by 2034. The government also aims to generate an additional C$200 billion in economic growth and create 250,000 new AI-related jobs within five years. Additionally, up to 90,000 AI jobs and work placements for young Canadians are planned under the broader strategy. In September, Ottawa allocated up to C$162 million over five years for 10,000 AI-related work placements through Mitacs AI Advantage.
Expansion of federal AI initiatives into public services
Carney also announced the launch of Digital Transformation Canada in September, aimed at modernizing federal services and increasing the government’s digital technology usage. This organization consolidates Shared Services Canada and selected functions from several federal departments and agencies, with a focus on improving how the government develops, procures, and employs technology. Its priorities include leveraging federal purchasing power to support Canadian digital and AI firms in testing, scaling, and commercializing new technologies. Patrick Pichette was appointed chief executive on September 9, 2026.
The new council will serve primarily as an advisory entity, not a policymaking body. It will concentrate on cross-cutting issues related to the government’s AI agenda, such as adoption, public-sector transformation, talent acquisition, and sovereign infrastructure. It will also address safety, governance, and the protection of Canadian democracy as AI use expands. Recommendations from the council will guide the evolution of AI for All, but ministers and departments will retain decision-making authority. The council does not possess separate authority to create or enforce federal policies.