In a cabinet that Prime Minister Mark Carney has called “purpose built for this hinge moment in history,” former broadcaster and rookie MP for Toronto Centre, Evan Solomon has been appointed minister of artificial intelligence and digital innovation.
AI-related matters had largely been lumped into the ministry of innovation, science, and industry, with Anita Anand at the helm prior to the April 28 election. Carney’s new cabinet sees a split in the portfolio, with Solomon tackling the innovation/digital side, and former foreign affairs minister Mélanie Joly named to the industry file.
Innovation in Canada
It’s well-known in Canada’s entrepreneur ecosystem that there isn’t an innovation problem, but a follow-through one.
In other words, the ideas are there, but commercialization often remains elusive.
A Competition Bureau of Canada study shows a “consistent and clear” decline in competitive intensity between 2000 and 2020, with many calling for a clear national strategy to put innovation front and centre in policies across government departments.
In response to the new cabinet, Benjamin Bergen, president of the Council of Canadian Innovators, said the appointments are an opportunity to “build a more focused and cohesive approach to economic policy that puts Canadian innovators and productivity growth at the centre of Canada’s agenda.”
For their part, the Liberals campaigned on a promise to leverage AI for better government efficiency, and to establish a dedicated Office of Digital Transformation.
(Fun fact: the word ‘innovation’ appears 28 times in the party’s official 2025 platform)
That 2025 platform acknowledges that the country has fallen behind on AI, but that it’s “the key to unlocking productivity, higher paying jobs, and new prosperity that will benefit everyone.”
The party promised to cut red tape that will lead to more data centres, with the same platform stating, “Canada must have the capacity to deploy the AI of the future and ensure we have technological sovereignty.”
Additional promises include:
- Tracking the economic impacts of AI in real-time, measuring growth to proactively help Canadians take advantage of opportunities
- A new AI deployment tax credit for small and medium-sized businesses
- Expanding successful programs at Canada’s AI institutes (Mila, Vector, Amii), allowing researchers and startups to connect and collaborate with businesses across the country
Solomon was also appointed Minister of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, a role that could go hand in hand with the AI and innovation file, owing to the region’s reputation as a technology hub.
