OTTAWA, CANADA / RankWire.AI / – Prime Minister Mark Carney has initiated a comprehensive national artificial intelligence council aimed at guiding the federal government on issues related to AI implementation, safety, and sovereignty. Announced on October 2, 2026, the Prime Minister’s National Council on Artificial Intelligence will serve as an independent advisory body offering practical insights as Canada advances its AI for All national strategy. Its scope includes economic competitiveness, public service modernization, research development, talent cultivation, infrastructure, and overall AI governance.
The council’s primary focus will be on exploring how Canada can boost AI deployment across various sectors while maintaining control over vital technological advancements. It will also provide guidance on Canadian AI firms, sovereign infrastructure, safety protocols, governance frameworks, and risks to democratic institutions. The government emphasizes that the council will facilitate collaboration between public and private stakeholders and identify opportunities for coordinated initiatives. Policy decisions and their execution will remain under the responsibility of cabinet ministers and federal departments. The Privy Council Office will provide dedicated support to the council’s activities.
The council’s composition includes researchers, tech leaders, investors, public servants, and specialists in AI safety and oversight. Notable members are Yoshua Bengio, Sanja Fidler, Ajay Agrawal, Valérie Pisano, Michelle Zatlyn, Jody Thomas, and Louis Vachon. Additionally, Senator Thomas Pitfield, John Graham, Gillian Hadfield, Jordan Jacobs, and Eric Lamarre are part of the group. Patrick Pichette, CEO of Digital Transformation Canada, serves as an ex officio member. The team’s expertise spans research, finance, national security, technology, and public administration.
Linking AI Safety with the National Strategy
Canada launched AI for All in June 2026 as its overarching national AI initiative. This strategy emphasizes three core goals: fostering trust, broadening opportunities, and maintaining Canadian sovereignty over key AI capabilities. Its six pillars include public safety, workforce skills, economic adoption, sovereign infrastructure, support for Canadian companies, and international collaborations. The plan also promotes enhanced AI safety measures, updated privacy and online safety regulations, and more secure government systems.
Measurable targets accompany the strategy, such as increasing AI adoption from just over 12% to 60% by 2034, alongside aims for C$200 billion in extra economic growth and the creation of 250,000 new AI-related jobs within five years. Ottawa also aspires to generate up to 90,000 AI-related jobs and placements for young Canadians under the broader plan. In September, the government committed 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 Sector Services
Carney introduced Digital Transformation Canada in September, a new organization designed to modernize federal services and expand government digital tool usage. This body combines Shared Services Canada with selected functions from various federal departments and agencies, with a focus on improving technology development, procurement, and deployment. Its priorities include leveraging federal purchasing power to support Canadian digital and AI companies in testing, scaling, and commercializing innovative technologies. Patrick Pichette assumed the role of chief executive on September 9, 2026.
The new council will function solely as an advisory entity, not as a policymaking body. Its efforts will concentrate on cross-cutting issues such as AI adoption, public-sector transformation, workforce talent, and sovereign infrastructure. It will also address concerns related to safety, governance, and the protection of Canadian democratic processes as AI use expands. The council’s recommendations will shape the evolution of AI for All, while ministers and departments retain responsibility for policy decisions and implementation. The council does not hold separate authority to create or enforce federal policies.