September 9, 2025 Edmonton, Alberta Employment and Social Development Canada/Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
The world is rapidly changing, and Canada must be ready to lead in building the economy of the future. To meet this demand, it is more important than ever to equip Canadian workers with the skills they need to succeed in an energy sector that is rapidly evolving. At the same time, the Government of Canada is ensuring that researchers and innovators have the advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools and compute capacity needed to drive discovery and commercialization.
Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, and the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, jointly highlighted federal investments to support workers and researchers in Canada's energy sector. They were joined by the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada.
Through the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund, the Government of Canada is investing over $9 million over three years in the AI Pathways: Energizing Canada's Low-Carbon Workforce project. Led by the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), this initiative will help nearly 5,000 Canadian energy workers gain AI and machine learning skills for careers in wind, solar, geothermal and hydrogen energy. Training will offer both online and in-person formats, tailored to meet the diverse needs of mid-career workers, industry associations, and unions across the country.
In addition, Minister Solomon highlighted nearly $19.7 million in federal funding as part of the Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy, to support Amii. This funding will expand access to advanced computing resources for Amii's researchers and clients. Beginning in 2025-26, it will help accelerate AI research, development, and adoption by providing the compute capacity needed to train and deploy advanced AI models. It will also support Canadian businesses in bringing AI-enabled products and services to market, boosting productivity and competitiveness across the economy. In doing so, it will strengthen Canada's innovation ecosystem, create new opportunities for students and entrepreneurs, and help ensure that the benefits of AI are shared widely and developed responsibly for all Canadians.
Together, these investments will strengthen Canada's leadership in artificial intelligence and ensure that both workers and researchers have the resources to shape the future of energy. Today's announcement is a step forward in building a more resilient and forward-looking economy - one that positions Canada to meet the moment and lead in the global clean energy transition.
