Canada Launches National AI Literacy Initiative with $13 Million Partnership
The Government of Canada has launched the National AI Literacy Initiative in Edmonton, a key component of its national AI strategy. Delivered through a partnership with Amii, the program offers free training to students, educators, and workers.
On September 9, 2026, the Government of Canada officially launched the National AI Literacy Initiative in Edmonton, Alberta. The announcement was made by Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. This initiative serves as a key deliverable under Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: AI for All.
The program is delivered through a national partnership with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), valued at $13 million. Its primary goal is to provide free, practical AI learning opportunities across three distinct streams: Essentials for Students, Essentials for Educators, and Essentials for Canadians. Through this Amii-led programming, the government expects to reach up to one million post-secondary students and more than 50,000 kindergarten-to-Grade-12 educators.
Course availability begins on September 21, 2026. On this date, post-secondary institutions can join a consortium to offer a free, three-hour AI literacy course to their students. Additionally, the first complete chapter of 'Essentials for Educators' will become openly available, with five further chapters scheduled for release throughout the fall.
Beyond academic settings, the initiative supports workforce adaptation. Workers and job seekers can access short-duration AI training through Employment and Social Development Canada’s Job Bank Training Finder. These resources are designed to help Canadians understand artificial intelligence, use it responsibly, and recognize risks such as bias, misinformation, and privacy loss.