June 4, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – Polytechnics Canada congratulates the federal government on the release of Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: AI for All.

For too long, the country’s AI leadership has benefited a concentrated few.  We welcome a stronger focus on widespread adoption and AI literacy to ensure individual Canadians — at school, at work and at home — are empowered to build the competencies to navigate this transformational technology safely and with confidence.

As leaders in delivering advanced technical and technological programs in every sector of the economy, Canada’s polytechnics are already enabling both full-time and mid-career learners with occupation- and sector-specific AI skillsets.  We look forward to expanding this important work to ensure graduates have industry-relevant skills and the confidence to lead broad workplace adoption efforts.

The AI for All Strategy speaks to the importance of helping small- and medium-sized businesses build awareness and comfort with a technology relatively few understand or trust.  This is where polytechnics — Canada’s innovation intermediaries — are prepared to put their applied research strengths into action.  They help businesses of all sizes build prototypes, test systems, validate models and implement solutions, derisking technology adoption and ensuring partners retain intellectual property.  This capacity will be critical to AI adoption efforts.

“AI has the potential to transform every sector of Canada’s economy, but its benefits will only be fully realized if people and businesses across the country have the skills and support to adopt it,” said Sarah Watts-Rynard, CEO of Polytechnics Canada.  “Canada’s polytechnics are uniquely positioned to help bridge that gap by equipping learners with practical, industry-relevant AI competencies and by working directly with businesses to test, validate and deploy AI solutions.  We welcome the government’s commitment to making AI more accessible to Canadians and look forward to partnering in this important work.”

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About

Polytechnics Canada is the voice of leading research-intensive, publicly supported polytechnics.  Sitting at the intersection of workforce development and business innovation, Canada’s polytechnics contribute to a more innovative, productive and globally competitive country.

Media Contact

Sarah Watts-Rynard, CEO
613-688-0899
sarah@polytechnicscanada.ca