UPDATE — AUGUST 2025: Since Minister Anita Anand announced consultations on Canada’s first federal AI strategy for the public service, the initiative has advanced. The public consultation period closed on October 31, 2024. Thousands of submissions came from academics, civil society, Indigenous organizations, and industry stakeholders. Treasury Board officials and the Office of the Chief Information Officer then synthesized feedback into a draft. Themes included responsible use, transparency, Indigenous data sovereignty, accessibility, and trust shaping its direction.
Also, in the May 2025 federal budget, Ottawa reaffirmed its $2.4 billion AI and digital transformation investment, setting aside funds for governance frameworks, AI literacy and training for public servants, and Indigenous-led digital inclusion projects. That same month, the government released its final “AI in the Public Service Strategy”, which established core principles of human-centered and accountable AI, a framework for AI procurement and risk assessments, mandatory AI Impact Assessments for higher-risk uses, and a public registry of government AI systems. It also created a new Federal AI Centre of Excellence under the Treasury Board Secretariat to coordinate implementation.
Since summer 2025, pilot deployments are underway: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is testing AI triage tools, Environment Canada is using AI for climate modeling, and Employment and Social Development Canada has launched AI chatbots for service delivery. Oversight is being enforced through quarterly departmental reporting. Looking ahead, the strategy will undergo a formal review in 2027, while Parliament’s ethics committee is set to scrutinize transparency and privacy safeguards this fall. Canada’s strategy is also being aligned with OECD guidelines and aspects of the EU AI Act, signaling a push for international interoperability in government AI governance.
ORIGINAL NEWS STORY:
Canada Seeking Public Consultations on First AI Strategy for Federal Public Service
The Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, has launched public consultations for Canada’s first artificial intelligence (AI) strategy for the federal public service. Anand announced the effort during the “Symposium on Digital Trust and Cyber Security” in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. She encouraged Canadians to share their views on how AI should support federal operations and improve government services.
Building a Responsible and Human-Centered AI Strategy
The consultations represent a major step in shaping a national approach for responsible government adoption of AI. The strategy aims to modernize public services, strengthen cybersecurity, and build digital trust across departments. These consultations build on early discussions held in May 2024, when AI experts, academics, private-sector leaders, and government representatives met to outline priorities. Participants consistently called for a human-centered and transparent approach to AI. They also stressed the need for collaboration between government, industry, and communities.
Anand explained that the strategy will help public servants work more efficiently, expand research capacity, and improve service delivery. “Artificial intelligence holds immense potential to transform how the federal government delivers services to Canadians,” Anand said. “Through this consultation process, we are gathering diverse perspectives to ensure AI is deployed responsibly and inclusively.”
Canadians Invited to Shape the Strategy
The consultation period runs through October 31, 2024. The government plans to gather input from a wide range of stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, civil-society groups, academia, industry, and the public. This broad engagement is intended to ensure the strategy reflects Canadian values and priorities. Anand emphasized cooperation across jurisdictions. She noted that events like the symposium help support consistent service delivery and assist government partners in solving shared digital challenges.
Timeline and Budget Commitment
The federal government has allocated $2.4 billion in the 2024 budget to support AI investments and digital modernization. The funding covers research capacity, service improvements, and infrastructure needed to deploy AI responsibly. The final strategy is expected in spring 2025 and will be published on Canada.ca. The government says the plan will prioritize public trust, privacy protection, accessibility, and responsible use of AI across departments. Canadians can find participation details and submit feedback through the Government of Canada’s website.
Need Help?
If you have questions about AI regulations or strategies, reach out to BABL AI. Hence, their Audit Experts can offer valuable insight, and ensure you’re informed and compliant.
