The Canadian government has allocated over $634,000 for three artificial intelligence initiatives in northern Ontario as part of its national AI strategy. The announcement took place at the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont.
The funding is designated for three specific projects: $456,000 for the Youth Tech Impact Program at the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre, $155,000 to support Kinmetrix in Sudbury in developing an AI-driven physical rehabilitation tool, and $23,110 for the Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce to enhance member and visitor support using AI.
Evan Solomon, the minister of artificial intelligence and digital innovation, emphasized aligning these projects with the national AI strategy’s principles of building trust, creating opportunities, and asserting sovereign control. He highlighted the importance of fostering innovation and collaboration among small businesses and youth.
Solomon noted the rapid growth of AI-related job opportunities, with over 150,000 individuals already employed in the AI sector across Canada. He underscored the government’s commitment to creating 90,000 AI job placements and launching a free national AI literacy program for students and the general public.
Patty Hajdu, the minister of jobs and families and FedNor representative, acknowledged the evolving nature of work due to AI adoption in northern Ontario. She emphasized the emergence of new job prospects and enhanced business efficiency through AI integration.
Richard Gemmill, the executive director of the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre, highlighted the success of the Youth Tech Impact Program in connecting youth with companies for technological innovation projects. He mentioned that most projects involved AI elements and praised the youth for their skills and value contribution to the businesses.
Gemmill mentioned that a significant portion of the federal funding aims to support entrepreneurs in hiring youth and subsidizing their wages for AI-related projects. He expressed optimism about the scalability of similar training models and anticipated more AI-focused programs in the future to bridge the skills gap between youth and businesses.