Canada’s AI Moment: Why Evan Solomon Is Right to Push for a Digital Sovereignty Strategy

Artificial Intelligence has moved from being a buzzword to the backbone of modern economies. Countries across the globe are racing to not just adopt AI, but to own it. At the All In conference in Montreal, Canada’s new Artificial Intelligence Minister, Evan Solomon, made it clear that Canada cannot afford to lag behind. His promise of a refreshed AI strategy two years ahead of schedule shouldn’t be viewed as political window-dressing. It’s a necessity.

Solomon’s urgency is well placed. Canada was the first nation to launch a national AI strategy, yet momentum is slipping as other economies pour billions into research, infrastructure, and commercialization. If Canada wants to remain a leader, it must double down now, not later.

The creation of a 20-member task force spanning industry, academia, and civil society is a smart move, but only if it avoids the fate of becoming another government committee that talks more than it acts. Solomon’s call for “bold, practical” ideas should be read as a challenge: this isn’t about cautious tinkering, it’s about reimagining Canada’s role in the digital economy.

One of the most striking parts of his speech was the comparison to historic nation-building projects the railroad and the national highway system. It’s a bold analogy, but it fits. Just as those projects connected Canadians physically, a robust AI and quantum infrastructure will connect Canadians economically and digitally. This is the kind of vision Canada has been missing.

Equally important is the minister’s emphasis on trust. Canadians won’t embrace AI if it feels like a threat to privacy, jobs, or democratic integrity. Updating Canada’s outdated privacy laws, tackling deepfakes, and protecting children online are not side issues they are prerequisites for public buy-in. Without trust, no amount of research grants or commercialization strategies will matter.

Solomon’s talk of digital sovereignty hits a deeper chord. For too long, Canada has been a “farm team” for Silicon Valley, nurturing talent and startups only to watch them snapped up and relocated. If this refreshed strategy keeps intellectual property and talent here at home, it will mark a turning point in how we think about innovation.

The promise of a “major quantum initiative” in October adds another layer of ambition. Quantum computing will define the next era of technology, and Canada has an opportunity to carve out a real competitive advantage if it can resist selling itself short.

Of course, words are easier than action. Canadians should hold the government accountable, ensuring this strategy doesn’t gather dust in a policy binder. But in fairness, Solomon is right: the time for waiting is over. If Canada wants to shape the digital future, it needs to build it fast, and on its own terms.