Canada unveils National AI Literacy Initiative with Amii

EDMONTON — Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon unveiled Canada’s National AI Literacy Initiative on Wednesday at the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, putting a $13-million federal program on a Sept. 21 start date.

“We’re the country that helped create this technology. Now, we must, and will be, the leader in AI education and skills training,” Solomon said. He framed literacy as “the best hedge against change” for students, educators, workers, parents and communities.

Amii will lead the rollout with the federal government across three streams — students, educators and the broader public — starting with a free three-hour post-secondary course and the first chapter of an Essentials for Educators program on Sept. 21, then more chapters through the fall. ISED expects the material to reach up to one million post-secondary students and more than 50,000 K-12 educators; Job Bank short courses for workers and job seekers, plus community delivery for the public, are due later in 2026.

Amii CEO Cam Linke said the goal is a foundation for everyone, not turning every Canadian into an AI expert. The launch locks in one of the AI for All strategy’s education pillars after less than a quarter of Canadians report any formal AI training — a skills push Ottawa is counting on as workplaces and prices keep adjusting to automation.