Mark Schaan
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
Opening remarks
The 28,000 submissions from the task force members were published today, this afternoon, and the summary of all the other submissions is available now, I think.
Meeting 22 · February 2, 2026 · 15:36–17:55 (2h 19m)
45-11 witness · 250 interventions · 14,169 words
The committee was studying the development and implementation of Canada's refreshed national artificial intelligence strategy. Appearing were the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, and Mark Schaan, Associate Deputy Minister at the Department of Industry.
Minister Solomon outlined his mandate's core principle of "AI for all" and three pillars: build, empower, and protect. He emphasized the need for sovereign AI infrastructure, including a $2-billion compute strategy and data centre investments, to keep Canadian intellectual property and jobs in Canada. He also highlighted the upcoming launch of the national AI strategy this quarter and a forthcoming modernization of privacy legislation, but did not provide a specific date for either.
Mark Schaan, responding to questions after the minister's departure, explained that the Canadian quantum champions program includes standard contractual safeguards to protect Canadian public interest and intellectual property, and that the program was designed to counter U.S. efforts to attract Canadian quantum firms. He also clarified that memoranda of understanding with companies like Cohere are strategic signals, not procurement contracts, and that any subsequent government use of their technology would follow normal procurement processes.
On the Bloc Québécois member's motion to order the production of all documents and submissions related to the AI strategy's development, the Liberal member proposed amendments to extend the deadline to 60 days and to require compliance with Access to Information and Privacy standards. The Conservative member proposed a subamendment to reduce the deadline to 30 days and remove the privacy compliance clause. After debate, the committee voted to adjourn the meeting, with eight members in favour and one opposed, before the motion or its amendments were resolved.
AI-generated summary — may contain errors; verify against the official evidence.
Mark Schaan
Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
Opening remarks
The 28,000 submissions from the task force members were published today, this afternoon, and the summary of all the other submissions is available now, I think.