Prime Minister Announces National AI Council to Guide Canadian Strategy

Canada has established a new advisory council to provide guidance on national artificial intelligence policy and strategy, as part of ongoing efforts to shape the country’s approach to AI development and deployment.

The Prime Minister’s National Council on Artificial Intelligence was officially announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa on October 2, 2026. The Council is responsible for offering independent and practical advice on the advancement of Canada’s “AI for All” strategy.

This advisory body is tasked with supporting several objectives, including accelerating the adoption of AI technologies, promoting national leaders in the field, developing domestic AI infrastructure, enhancing safety, safeguarding democratic processes, and ensuring broad-based prosperity.

The Council brings together participants from a range of backgrounds, including researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, public officials, and international specialists. This structure is intended to include both public and private sector perspectives in the Council’s work.

What the numbers show

• The National Council on AI was launched on October 2, 2026.
• Canada’s “AI for All” strategy began on June 4, 2026.
• The Council includes 13 named members and one ex officio participant.

Named members of the Council include Ajay Agrawal, Yoshua Bengio, Sanja Fidler, John Graham, Gillian Hadfield, Jordan Jacobs, Eric Lamarre, Valérie Pisano, Senator Thomas Pitfield, Jody Thomas, Louis Vachon, Michelle Zatlyn, and Patrick Pichette in an ex officio capacity.

The Council’s activities will be supported by a dedicated team within the Privy Council Office. However, the responsibility for making policy decisions and carrying out implementation will remain with the relevant ministers and government departments.

Canada’s “AI for All” strategy, which the Council will help guide, was introduced by Prime Minister Carney on June 4, 2026. The strategy is designed to foster trust, expand opportunities, and strengthen Canada’s sovereignty in the field of artificial intelligence.

The Council’s mandate includes advising on ways to make AI safer and more beneficial for Canadians, as well as protecting the country’s democratic institutions as AI technologies continue to evolve.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.