The Senate resolved into a Committee of the Whole in order to receive the Honourable Evan Solomon, P.C., M.P., Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, to consider the subject of artificial intelligence.

Senator Wilson: Minister, in Budget 2022, Canada launched a National Quantum Strategy, building on major investments it made in quantum research and technology development hubs through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.

From this funding, UBC, Sherbrooke and Waterloo have built impressive co-labs and are now joined by Calgary in that endeavour. However, funding is now running out. The federal government has prioritized these technologies for economic growth and national sovereignty.

How does the government plan to ensure Canada maintains global research and talent development leadership in quantum technologies, which is required to continue to grow the quantum economy in Canada?

My second question: Vancouver, where I’m from, is home to a world-class AI research and innovation ecosystem. By any measure, Vancouver is one of Canada’s global centres for excellence in AI research.

However, since its launch in 2017, the government’s Pan‑Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy has not adequately recognized or leveraged the strength of B.C.’s leading research universities, vibrant ecosystems of small- and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, and major global companies. Will the minister’s forthcoming AI strategy address that gap?

Mr. Solomon: Thank you, senator. Great questions.

Let me talk about quantum briefly, and then I’ll talk about the marvellous ecosystem in British Columbia.

First of all, quantum is absolutely important. We have over 100 companies here in Canada. The United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA, program had a Quantum Benchmarking Initiative program to try to see if they could create a fault-tolerant quantum computer, which is very important because, if you can create one, you can break through forms of security. From a cryptography point of view, all your security can be broken with this type of computer, so it’s very important.

They created a very lucrative challenge that some core Canadian companies were involved in. That’s why in December we launched the Canadian Quantum Champions Program. Stage 1 of our program is more lucrative than their stages 1 and 2 combined.

They have a $300 million offer to any company that hits their stage 3 and then another US$300 million to move their headquarters to the United States. We have kept them here. Our four core companies are involved, and more will be involved in stage 1.

Our goal is to make sure that we keep our quantum companies here for security, for intellectual property, IP. And our Canadian Quantum Champions Program is doing just that, rivalling the U.S. program. In fact, it’s more lucrative in the early stages and will rival it as we roll out.

Any time a company accepts money, the goal is to make sure that their headquarters, IP and ownership stay in Canada to keep our IP here.

We also have the National Quantum Strategy to commercialize and develop quantum, with about $360 million attached. We have done a lot on quantum in a very short period, and there is more to come in the national strategy.

With my remaining time, I will say we are deeply engaged with the ecosystem in B.C. We are deeply engaged with the government there to make sure that we capitalize on this remarkable ecosystem in physical AI, robotics, health care, life sciences and technology to ensure that we benefit from that —

The Chair: Thank you, minister.