One essential element remains underdeveloped: a national data strategy capable of fuelling the sovereign compute engine we are trying to build—and ensuring its benefits accrue at home.
Canada should regard the new strategy as a strategic warning, and move quickly to build its own integrated policy frameworks that protect sovereignty, reinforce national security, and set the terms of our bilateral engagement.
In an era where the country’s future will be predicated on a strong and globally reputable post-secondary education system, Canada can combine pragmatic guardrails with the tools and talent to lead.
Canada will not lead through mass or hard power. But we can lead through strategic utility and differentiation. This starts with geography—our greatest untapped advantage.
U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance has dismissed disinformation as a fabrication of ‘old entrenched interests hiding behind ugly Soviet-era words’ to justify censorship. Similarly, U.S. President Donald Trump is amplifying pro-Russian propaganda, blaming Ukraine for starting Russia’s war of aggression against itself.
We must urgently adopt a forward-looking approach that strengthens economic resilience, and reduces our vulnerability to U.S. policy volatility.
Canada can take more steps to bolster society’s resilience and defence capabilities against the relentless onslaught of autocratic regimes and malicious non-state actors.
Canada has a role to play in pushing its influence on the world stage. Right now, we are currently fifth in terms of AI capacity on the Tortoise Global Index, yet is 23rd in actual AI infrastructure.
