Parliamentary Secretary Karim Bardeesy, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, and the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, attended the G20 Innovation Ministerial on September 1 and 2, 2026, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The meeting brought together ministers and senior officials to discuss opportunities to advance research, innovation, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and the skills required to drive productivity and economic opportunity. They also noted the need for continued international collaboration in this rapidly changing space.
On the margins of the meeting, Parliamentary Secretary Bardeesy met with representatives of Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia and the European Union to discuss various points of collaboration on science and technology, AI, and innovation. He also shared with his American hosts how Canada views the importance of AI in driving innovation-which involves supporting and investing in research, infrastructure, commercialization and technology adoption-as well as the importance of the G20.
While in Chapel Hill, Canada highlighted its commitment to fostering innovation that improves lives, strengthens communities and supports sustainable growth. Discussions focused on how to advance innovation policies, public sector AI adoption, technical workforce development, intellectual property, standards for AI, and industrial supply chains.
Canada also engaged with international counterparts to exchange perspectives on shared challenges and opportunities and to explore ways to strengthen collaboration among researchers, innovators and institutions.
