Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a nationwide artificial‑intelligence strategy in Toronto, pledging $2.3 billion to lift AI literacy, trust and adoption across Canada. The plan projects up to 90,000 AI‑related jobs for young Canadians and a total of 250,000 new positions by 2031.. Opposition leaders, however, warned that the blueprint lacks concrete safeguards for privacy and workforce displacement.

Free AI Learning Kits for Every Canadian

According to the government release, the strategy will distribute free AI learning kits and open online courses to all citizens, with a special focus on post‑secondary students who will gain access to “trusted AI agents.” The initiative is designed to close the gap Carney identified between Canada and leading AI nations in public understanding and confidence .

$50 Million AI Safety Institute and New Trust Certification

The plan earmarks $50 millon for a dedicated AI safety institute that will develop standards and certify “trustworthy AI” products. As the report notes, the government also intends to mandate content watermarking and launch a certification program to signal compliance with safety norms .

$500 Million Regional AI Initiative and Tech Growth Fund

To spur commercialization, $500 million will expand the Regional AI Initiative , while another $500 million will seed the Canadian Tech Growth Fund, targeting promising AI firms. The funding builds on a previously announced $2 billion compute‑infrastructure budget, rather than introducing fresh capital for hardware.

Job Creation Claims: 90,000 Youth Roles and 250,000 Total Positions

The strategy predicts up to 90,000 AI‑related jobs for youth and 250,000 new jobs overall by 2031, emphasizing a “pro‑worker” model that augments human expertise rather than replaces it. Critics from the Conservative and NDP benches argue the projections are optimistic and lack detail on how displaced workers will be retrained.

Who Will Guard Privacy and Combat Deepfakes?

While the plan promises forthcoming privacy and online‑harms legislation, opposition MPs claim the specifics on surveillance pricing, chatbot safety and deep‑fake mitigation are missing. As the source states, “the plan fails to prrotect privacy, security, and jobs,” highlighting a key gap that will likely shape future parliamentary debate.