Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon says Ottawa’s long-promised AI strategy is “coming very soon,” following months of consultations with industry, labour and other stakeholders. 

During an event Monday in the rural Ottawa community of Vars, Solomon said the department is “obviously” rolling out a series of strategies, but even though consultations have taken place, he noted that the industry has changed dramatically. 

“Last week, I consulted with labor leaders, environmentalists, young kids on Gen Z,” Solomon said. “We are making sure that when we launch the strategy, there’s an element… that it will meet the needs of the changing needs of labour and all the stakeholder groups.” 

As part of its Spring Economic Update, the federal government laid out six pillars for its forthcoming A.I. strategy, centered on protecting Canadians and democratic institutions, empowering individuals with the skills to navigate an A.I.-driven economy, and accelerating adoption to drive shared prosperity. 

The plan also emphasizes building a sovereign domestic A.I. foundation, scaling homegrown companies into global leaders, and strengthening trusted international partnerships and alliances. 

The update did not include a specific date on when the strategy will be released. 

The minister has also faced mounting questions about the pace of federal A.I. regulation. 

Last week, reporters asked about a lawsuit filed by families in Tumbler Ridge against OpenAI. Solomon said Ottawa’s priority is ensuring Canadians are protected, pointing to ongoing work by the A.I. Safety institute to assess companies’ safety protocols. 

READ MORE: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman ‘deeply sorry’ over Tumbler Ridge shooting 

“We are taking action,” Solomon said last Wednesday at a pre-caucus scrum. 

“Before you take action… we have to understand exactly what these companies are doing with these new technologies on A.I. chatbots, and we are looking very closely,” he said.