Benjamin Bergen, who leads the Council of Canadian Innovators, expressed a need for more clarity on how companies can access the government's computing power and infrastructure. He believes that if Canadian companies are given the necessary resources to compete globally, then the recent announcement is a step in the right direction. In addition to this, funds will be allocated to accelerate the adoption of AI in various sectors, including agriculture and healthcare. The goal is to unleash the full potential of AI, creating opportunities for Canadians, particularly young individuals, to secure well-paying jobs, boost productivity, and foster economic growth, as stated by Trudeau. The Canadian government unveiled a comprehensive package of measures, worth C$2. 4 billion (US$1. 8 billion), dedicated to artificial intelligence. The focal point of this package is an allocation of C$2 billion (US$1. 47 billion) for computing capabilities and technological infrastructure, which will accelerate the progress of AI researchers, start-ups, and other businesses, as outlined in an official statement. To strengthen its AI sector, Canada is establishing a funding initiative and a new AI safety institute. The prime minister, Justin Trudeau, made the announcement in Montreal, one of the emerging AI hubs in Canada.

The city's expertise in fundamental research has grown, partly due to the presence of renowned AI researcher Yoshua Bengio, who, along with Elon Musk and Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, urged caution in training powerful AI models by signing a letter last year. During the event, Bengio praised the proposed Canadian AI Safety Institute, which will receive a budget of C$50 million. He believes that Canada's announcement places the country on the right side of history. It is worth noting that Canada has yet to implement regulations for AI, although the introduction of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act in 2022 is currently being considered by members of parliament. The government reports that there were over 140, 000 active AI professionals in Canada as of last year. Additionally, AI-related ventures made up nearly 30% of all venture capital activity in Canada in 2022, totaling around C$8. 6 billion. Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne mentioned in a Bloomberg News interview in March that it will soon become mandatory for the government to be notified in advance of non-Canadian firms planning to invest in critical technology sectors like AI and quantum computing. This advance notice will allow the government to assess the national security implications of the investment, a measure believed to be aimed at controlling Chinese investments in Canadian entities. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is expected to reveal her budget plan for the 2024-25 financial year on April 16th. The government, however, has already held a series of events to preview portions of the budget.