Federal Government Expands Support To Adopt Artificial Intelligence - Canadian Manufacturing

OTTAWA — On Oct. 13, Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, announced that an additional $500 million over five years to expand and enhance the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative is now available. This investment brings total federal funding for the initiative to $700 million.

The initiative is part of AI for All, Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, announced in June 2026, which aims to strengthen Canadian AI capabilities and sovereignty, and ensure all Canadians can use AI responsibly to build and benefit from it.

Delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), the expanded initiative intends to help businesses and organizations responsibly adopt and integrate AI technologies to improve productivity, competitiveness and resilience. The support will focus primarily on sectors where Canada has expertise and economic potential, such as health and life sciences, energy and natural resources, transportation, agriculture, manufacturing and robotics.

“The question is not whether AI will reshape our economy. It is whether Canada will capture the opportunity. The Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative will help Canadian businesses adopt AI and Canadian AI firms scale from here, so that the technology, talent and economic value we create remain anchored in Canada and under Canadian control,” said Minister Solomon.

The initiative will also help Canadian AI businesses gain customers, attract investment, and commercialize and scale Canadian-made products and services, while supporting regional organizations that connect businesses with the specialized support they need to adopt or commercialize AI technologies.