OTTAWA, Sept. 9 — The Government of Canada has officially launched the National AI Literacy Initiative, a major program under its federal artificial intelligence strategy, designed to counter growing public apprehension about AI by providing free, entry-level AI training across the country. The initiative is delivered in partnership with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), an AI research institute based in Edmonton, Alberta.
The program addresses the reality that AI is changing how Canadians learn, work, and access services, and aims to equip Canadians with the knowledge and skills to benefit from these technologies while understanding their risks. First up is a foundational course targeting up to 1 million post-secondary students.
The free, three-hour course covers basic AI concepts, ethical guidelines, and workplace readiness skills. Post-secondary institutions can join an educational consortium and open the course to students starting September 21, 2026. Next, the program aims to train more than 50,000 K-12 educators.
It provides practical training and classroom-ready resource kits to help teachers integrate AI themes into their lessons. The first instructional chapter for educators launches on September 21, 2026, with five subsequent chapters rolling out throughout the fall.
AI for All: Essentials for Canadians
The third stream targets the general public, including remote communities, job seekers, and the active workforce. It offers accessible, short-duration modules highlighting practical digital tools, as well as lessons on identifying AI bias, privacy hazards, and misinformation. This stream is scheduled to launch nationally later this year through public libraries, community organizations, and the Employment and Social Development Canada Job Bank portal.
The launch comes amid rising public concern about AI’s impact on jobs, privacy, and society. The initiative is part of the broader ‘AI for All’ national strategy, which includes funding goals to support AI adoption and literacy across Canada, and represents a coordinated federal effort to build a more AI-literate population.
