Hon. Katherine Hay: Honourable senators, my question is for the government leader, the Honourable Senator Gold. I echo all the warm and inspiring words and feelings about your impact in the Senate and on the people of Canada. I know this impact will have a ripple effect for generations to come.

My question is this: In the previous government’s budget, more than 14 months ago, there was a significant commitment made to invest in artificial intelligence, or AI, by establishing a $2.4-billion AI fund, with $2 billion tagged to invest in computing and infrastructure — something Canada is sorely lacking in — and $400 million to invest in Canadian-developed, ‑built, -owned and -implemented AI products and start-ups.

Can you share or inquire what the spend or flow of investment has been, and what the plans are to put these funds into the hands of Canadian companies, applied research institutes, not-for-profits and even not-for-profit charities quickly?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, senator, and for an important intervention — your first intervention — in the chamber.

As you properly noted, this was an issue passed by the previous government, and I can say that this government is committed to allocating the funding in a responsible manner. I will also note — as the Prime Minister said — that this government is focused on becoming more productive by deploying AI at scale, focusing on results over spending and using our scarce tax dollars to catalyze multitudes of private investment.

In a recent interview with Patrice Roy, the Prime Minister also mentioned the link and the importance of AI to our defence and national security, and the building of that infrastructure here in Canada.