The federal government has praised recent announcements by Bell, Telus, and other private sector companies in the telecommunications industry regarding their intentions to develop infrastructure that may help promote Canada as an artificial intelligence leader.
These announced plans will help support the responsible development and adoption of AI technologies, according to a recent statement by Mélanie Joly, minister of industry and minister responsible for Canada economic development for Quebec regions, and Evan Solomon, minister of artificial intelligence and digital innovation and minister responsible for the federal economic development agency for Southern Ontario.
The ministers said the companies’ investments will also assist in generating high-quality jobs in Canada, offer new opportunities for remote workers, promote prosperity for businesses and their employees across the country, and advance Canada’s artificial intelligence advantage.
The government ministers added that the companies’ investments demonstrated the telecommunications industry’s strong alignment with the country’s intent to establish the strongest economy within the G7.
“These investments are also a testament to Canada’s commitment to ensuring all Canadians have access to best-in-class technologies,” Joly and Solomon said in a news release from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
The ministers said the companies’ plans showed the industry’s desire to ensure that AI gets to scale, improves productivity, and promotes trust, security, and sovereignty amid the crisis arising from the tariffs imposed by the US.
Government efforts
“The Government of Canada will continue to champion investments that expand access to reliable, affordable telecommunications and support the growth of Canadian businesses in every corner of the country,” Joly and Solomon said in the department’s news release. “Canada is open for business.”
Back in March, Anita Anand – minister of innovation, science, and industry – announced that the federal government would be working with OmniaBio in the expansion of its facility to manufacture cell and gene therapies.
The project focused on safe, effective, and advanced treatments for chronic diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, and cardiovascular and neurological diseases, according to a news release from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada from that time.
“OmniaBio’s project has the potential to make the next generation of medicines in Canada for use in critical areas such as chronic diseases,” Anand said in the news release. “The project will enhance the country’s innovation ecosystem and has the potential to attract world-leading investment to Canada, contributing to keeping the population safe and healthy.”
The federal government department noted the potential of cell and gene therapies to revolutionize the treatment of a wide array of life-threatening diseases. The department added that the project sought to strengthen the country’s life sciences and biomanufacturing sector and its participation in global value chains.
“Patient access to cell-based cancer therapies has been hindered by high manufacturing costs and complex cold-chain logistics,” said Mitchel Sivilotti, president and chief executive officer of OmniaBio Inc., in the news release.
“OmniaBio will complete the transformation of our Hamilton facility into the first cell therapy Intelligent FactoryTM, answering a Canadian and global call for innovation in the production and supply of biomedicines,” Sivilotti added.