Timeline

Bill C-36 (Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act) introduced in the House of Commons (first reading)

The Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act (Bill C-36) is introduced and receives first reading in the House of Commons, tabled by Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. It would enact the PPCDA, amend PIPEDA, and establish a Digital Safety and Data Protection Commission of Canada. Framed as a cornerstone of the AI for All national strategy, it regulates automated decision-making systems and carries forward the privacy reforms of the former Bill C-27 without re-introducing AIDA.

Bill C-34 (Safe Social Media Act) introduced in the House of Commons (first reading)

The Safe Social Media Act (Bill C-34) is introduced and receives first reading in the House of Commons, tabled by Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture. It would enact the Digital Safety Act and the Digital Safety Commission of Canada Act and is the first Canadian legislation to directly regulate AI chatbot services — subjecting them to a duty to act responsibly alongside a minimum social media account age of 16 and a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada.

Prime Minister Carney launches AI for All: Canada's new national AI strategy

In Toronto, Prime Minister Mark Carney launches "AI for All," Canada's renewed national artificial intelligence strategy, alongside Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation.

INDU Meeting 41 — Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries

Meeting 41 of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) as part of its study on "Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries" — the last meeting of the study before the launch of Canada's National AI Strategy on June 4, 2026. The session ran from 3:40 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. EDT and was webcast. The first panel covered AI and copyright law and the space industry; the second panel, appearing by videoconference, included cultural-sector representatives, ControlAI, and AI sustainability researcher Sasha Luccioni.

Cross-party MPs and senators back ControlAI campaign to prohibit superintelligent AI

ControlAI launches the Canadian arm of its campaign calling on Canada to negotiate an international "trust but verify" regime to prohibit the development of superintelligent AI. A multipartisan group of more than 30 MPs and senators lends its support, days before the federal government releases its national AI strategy.

INDU Meeting 40 — Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries

Meeting 40 of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) as part of its study on "Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries." The public AI portion ran from 11:00 a.m. to 12:07 p.m. EDT and was webcast; the committee then moved in camera to consider its draft report on U.S. tariffs. Witnesses covered AI economic policy, copyright and music licensing, and government data analytics.

INDU Meeting 38 — Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries

Meeting 38 of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) as part of its study on "Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries." The session ran from 11:01 a.m. to 1:02 p.m. EDT and was webcast. Witnesses represented the Centre for Designing Change, INQ Law, Oracle, the Council of Canadian Innovators, Hypertec Group, and Photonic, covering AI adoption, legal and regulatory questions, compute and data-centre infrastructure, and quantum technology.

INDU Meeting 36 — Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries

Meeting 36 of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) as part of its study on "Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries." The public AI portion ran from 11:01 a.m. to about 1:06 p.m. EDT and was webcast; the committee then moved in camera to give drafting instructions for its report on U.S. tariffs. Witnesses included CIGI founder Jim Balsillie, labour representatives appearing for the Canadian Telecommunications Workers Alliance, and leaders from Quantum Industry Canada and Qu Data Centres.

Canada and Finland sign Joint Statement on Sovereign Technology and AI Cooperation

Prime Minister Mark Carney and President of Finland Alexander Stubb sign a joint statement in Ottawa on sovereign technology and AI cooperation.

INDU Meeting 31 — Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries

Meeting 31 of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) as part of its study on "Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries." The session ran from 3:32 p.m. to 5:43 p.m. EDT and was televised. Witnesses represented Bell Canada, Bell AI, the Vector Institute, Cohere Inc., TELUS, and Next Generation Manufacturing Canada, discussing AI regulation and its implications for Canadian industry.

INDU Meeting 29 — Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries

Meeting 29 of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) as part of its study on "Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries." The session ran from 3:32 p.m. to 5:51 p.m. EDT and was webcast. Witnesses appeared as individuals or on behalf of the University of Guelph, covering AI law, privacy, copyright, and cybersecurity — including prominent AI researcher Yoshua Bengio, law professor Michael Geist, and privacy scholar Colin Bennett.

INDU Meeting 27 — Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries

Meeting 27 of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) as part of its study on "Opportunities, Risks, and Regulation of AI in Canada's Strategic Industries." The public session ran from 3:41 p.m. to 5:32 p.m. EDT (5:20 p.m. for public witnesses, followed by an in-camera session on a separate matter) and was webcast. Witnesses included academics and industry representatives covering AI governance, AI safety, computer vision, information law, and applied AI, as well as the CEO of Scale AI and the founder of AI Governance and Safety Canada.

Canada and Germany sign AI Joint Declaration and launch the Sovereign Technology Alliance

On the margins of the Munich Security Conference, Minister Evan Solomon and Germany's Minister Karsten Wildberger sign the Joint Declaration of Intent on Artificial Intelligence and announce the launch of the Sovereign Technology Alliance.

CIGI publishes AI and National Security Scenarios Workshop Summary Report

The Global AI Risks Initiative at CIGI publishes the summary report from the AI National Security Scenarios Workshop co-hosted with the Privy Council Office of Canada.

ISED publishes summary of inputs from 30-day AI Sprint

ISED publishes "Engagements on Canada's next AI Strategy: Summary of inputs," the report synthesizing feedback from the October 2025 30-day national AI Sprint.

DSIT publishes International AI Safety Report 2026 (Bengio et al.)

The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology publishes the International AI Safety Report 2026, led by Yoshua Bengio and produced by over 100 independent experts from more than 30 countries.

Canada and Germany announce the Canada-Germany Digital Alliance

On the margins of the G7 Industry, Digital and Technology Ministers' Meeting in Montréal, Minister Evan Solomon and Germany's Minister Karsten Wildberger announce the Canada-Germany Digital Alliance.

AIGS publishes "Preparing for the AI Crisis: A Plan for Canada" (2025)

AI Governance and Safety Canada (AIGS) publishes its 2025 white paper on preparing Canada for the AI crisis.

Government of Canada launches 30-day AI Sprint and AI Strategy Task Force

Minister Evan Solomon (Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation) announces a 30-day national sprint (October 1–31, 2025) inviting Canadians to share views on Canada's next national AI strategy via the Consulting Canadians portal. Simultaneously, an AI Strategy Task Force of 40 leaders from academia, industry, civil society, and government is constituted to provide actionable insights and recommendations across nine thematic areas. Over 11,300 Canadians participate and the Task Force produces 28 reports.

AI National Security Scenarios Workshop

A full-day, in-person scenarios workshop co-hosted by the Global AI Risks Initiative at CIGI and the Privy Council Office of Canada, exploring existing and emerging national security implications of next-generation AI systems.

Parliament prorogued — Bill C-27 dies on the Order Paper

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his resignation and Parliament is prorogued by proclamation of the Governor General. All legislation on the Order Paper, including Bill C-27 (and with it AIDA), dies. INDU's clause-by-clause study of the bill ceases.

AIGS publishes "Governing AI: A Plan for Canada (2024 Update)"

AI Governance and Safety Canada (AIGS) publishes the 2024 update to its annual white paper on AI governance in Canada.

AIGS publishes "Governing AI: A Plan for Canada" (2023)

AI Governance and Safety Canada (AIGS) publishes its inaugural white paper on AI governance in Canada.

Minister Champagne launches Voluntary Code of Conduct for Advanced Generative AI

ISED launches consultation on Canadian Guardrails for Generative AI

Bill C-27 introduced in the House of Commons (first reading)

The Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022 (Bill C-27) is introduced and receives first reading in the House of Commons. The bill bundles three components: the Consumer Privacy Protection Act, the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act, and the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) — the first proposed federal AI-specific legislation in Canada.

Federal Budget 2021 renews Pan-Canadian AI Strategy with $443.8M Phase 2

Budget 2021 committed $443.8 million over ten years to launch Phase 2 of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy. The renewal significantly expanded the strategy's scope beyond the Phase 1 focus on research and talent, adding pillars for responsible AI development and commercialisation. CIFAR continued as administrator, with the three national institutes (Vector, Mila, Amii) each eligible for up to $20 million over five years from the new envelope. Additional funding supported the Standards Council of Canada ($8.6M) and the Digital Research Alliance ($40M) as part of the broader package.

Federal Budget 2017 launches Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy

Budget 2017 committed $125 million over five years to establish the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy — Canada's first dedicated national AI program. The federal government appointed CIFAR (Canadian Institute for Advanced Research) as administrator. Funding was directed to three newly designated national AI institutes: the Vector Institute (Toronto), Mila – Quebec AI Institute (Montréal), and Amii (Edmonton). The strategy's initial mandate focused on attracting and retaining world-leading researchers, increasing AI-skilled graduates, and building a cohesive national research community.