As the artificial intelligence build-out accelerates across sectors of the economy, we face a consequential policy choice.

Federal AI funding should be tied explicitly to industries that drive Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) and exports, like energy, mining and advanced manufacturing, or Canadians will increasingly feel the already sharp bite of trade deficits and related inflation.

OPINION: Canada’s economic future risks strategic drift without focused AI policy  Back to video

AI policy is economic policy.  If it is not aligned with the sectors that pay Canada’s bills, it risks becoming branding rather than nation-building. Ottawa’s $300-million Compute Access Fund aims to expand compute power for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) developing made-in-Canada AI products. The objective is commendable, but the program provides no clear direction about which sectors matter most to Canada’s long-term prosperity.

Policymakers and industry leaders........

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