Canada Appoints AI Minister Evan Solomon
Let’s Build Canada’s AI Future Together
By Kris Krüg
The appointment of Evan Solomon as Canada’s first Minister of Artificial Intelligence marks a watershed moment – though perhaps not the one Ottawa intended. It’s an acknowledgment that digital transformation isn’t a department initiative but a fundamental restructuring of how government serves citizens.
Let’s be straight: Canada’s slide from 3rd to 47th in global e-government rankings isn’t just a statistical blip. It’s evidence of a systemic failure to recognize digital infrastructure as essential to our national future.
Where We Stand: BC’s Ground-Up Model
In British Columbia, we didn’t wait for federal permission to build. The BC + AI Ecosystem Initiative connects a diverse coalition of practitioners, communities, and innovators who understand that real transformation happens at the intersection of code and culture.
Our strength comes from unlikely alliances: Indigenous data sovereignty experts collaborating with climate scientists; artists working alongside neural engineers; community organizers partnering with tech founders. We’re building tools that respect the land, empower communities, and create genuine public value.
This work is messy, iterative, and profoundly human. It happens in community labs, Discord channels, and monthly gatherings where hundreds of practitioners share demos, not just theories. We ship code while challenging each other to build more ethical, inclusive systems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bow1N4a5kSU
The Path Forward: From Competition to Collaboration
Minister Solomon, your new role comes with immense challenges, but also with an opportunity to forge a truly Canadian approach to AI – one that doesn’t just mimic Silicon Valley but builds on our unique strengths:
- Our diversity of perspective
- Our legacy of public infrastructure
- Our commitment to Indigenous reconciliation
- Our tradition of cooperative innovation
The question isn’t whether a federal ministry can “manage” AI development – it can’t. The question is whether it can serve as a catalyst, connector, and champion for the ecosystem already taking shape across the country.
https://kriskrug.co/2025/02/16/bcs-ai-ecosystem-a-mycelial-network-of-creation/
Five Bridge-Building Proposals
Here’s how we can work together to transform Canada’s approach to AI:
1. Create a Federal-Provincial AI Council With Real Authority
Not another talking shop, but a decision-making body with representatives from regional innovation hubs, Indigenous communities, and practitioner networks. Give us a direct channel to shape policy alongside government.
2. Launch Regional Compute Commons
The talent is distributed across Canada, but the computing resources aren’t. Establish shared public infrastructure – not just in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, but in Prince George, Halifax, and Saskatoon.
3. Adopt Transparent Procurement for AI Systems
Any AI system purchased or developed with public money should be documented publicly, with clear information about training data sources, potential biases, and limitations. Let’s make Canada the world leader in transparent, accountable AI.
4. Create Data Trusts With Community Governance
Move beyond outdated privacy frameworks toward collective data governance models that give communities control over how their information is used. The BC Indigenous Data Sovereignty frameworks offer a starting point.
5. Build Shared Tools for Public Challenges
Rather than each department developing siloed solutions, create shared tools for climate modeling, healthcare analytics, and educational resources that provinces, municipalities, and community organizations can adapt.
The Invitation Stands
Minister Solomon, your background in journalism brings something valuable to this role: the ability to ask hard questions and translate complex issues for broad audiences. These skills will serve you well – if paired with genuine curiosity and humility.
The invitation stands: Come to Vancouver. Spend time with the practitioners who are already building Canada’s AI future. See firsthand what’s working in our ecosystem, and where federal support could amplify community initiatives rather than replace them.
This isn’t about BC versus Ottawa. It’s about recognizing that genuine innovation emerges from the ground up, not from mandate letters down. The communities building Canada’s AI future aren’t waiting for permission – but we would welcome a partner who understands that their role is to enable, not control.
The Bridge We Need to Build
The truth is, we need each other. Regional ecosystems need federal support to scale nationally and compete globally. The federal government needs practitioner wisdom to craft policies that actually work in the real world.
BC’s model offers a blueprint for what’s possible when we prioritize community leadership, ethical practice, and genuine inclusion. We’ve proven that ecosystem-building beats bureaucracy – but ecosystem-building still requires resources, connections, and policy frameworks that only the federal government can provide.
Minister Solomon, your success will be measured not by the policies you announce, but by the bridges you build between Ottawa and the communities already doing this work. If you approach this role as a collaborator rather than a regulator, you’ll find willing partners across this country.
The future of Canadian AI isn’t about keeping pace with global competitors. It’s about charting a distinctly Canadian path that reflects our values: diverse, collaborative, and fundamentally committed to the public good.
We’re ready to build that future together. The question is: are you?