AGP Executive Report

Canada AI push meets trust gap: Prime Minister Mark Carney’s “AI for All” strategy leans hard on “trust” as the “North Star,” promising protections against deepfakes, unsafe chatbots and AI-driven disinformation, as critics argue the plan still misses adoption details. Health misinformation check: A CMAJ practice paper says acetaminophen (Tylenol/paracetamol) is reassuringly safe in pregnancy when used as directed, underlining how “null findings” can fight viral claims. MAID debate turns to housing: A Sault Ste. Marie man is raising money for “economic euthanasia” alternatives, arguing some MAID cases reflect affordability and disability support gaps. Climate and ecosystems: UVic research finds Vancouver Island kelp forests began collapsing decades earlier than expected, tied to faster-than-average ocean warming. Weather watch: Environment Canada warns B.C. is likely to see a hotter-than-normal summer, with drier conditions in parts of the province. Tech in the real world: CBC/Radio-Canada’s Olympic broadcast upgrade and other EBU nominees highlight AI and cloud tools moving from labs to live production. Infrastructure/legal drag: The Gordie Howe Bridge is “essentially complete,” but a lawsuit could delay the fight over opening timelines into 2027–28.

FIFA World Cup Counterfeits: U.S. and Canadian officials warn of a surge in World Cup “dupes,” with CBSA using advanced data analysis and exploring AI to flag suspicious shipments as critics say Canada relies too much on civil lawsuits instead of stronger border enforcement. AI Infrastructure Reality Check: A new look at the global AI data-centre boom finds more delays, redesigns, financing trouble and cancellations—shifting the story from pure tech to power, capital and geopolitics. National AI Strategy Push: Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy is moving forward with promises tied to jobs and adoption, while Anthropic urges labs to coordinate a possible pause as risks grow. Markets Hit by Tech Selloff: Canada’s S&P/TSX fell 2.3% and U.S. stocks dropped sharply, led by a semiconductor rout and rate worries. Jobs Data: Canada added 87,800 jobs in May and unemployment fell to 6.6%, easing but not erasing recession/stagnation concerns. Health & Research: A new rapid access addictions medicine clinic opens in The Pas; NASA continues Artemis II science on Earth; and Queen’s University research links prescribed exercise to better colon cancer outcomes and lower system costs. Energy & Climate: Saskatchewan’s second oil-and-gas offering raised nearly $18M; a 100 MW Turning Sun solar project breaks ground in Estevan; and Canada’s electricity strategy targets a major grid build-out for AI and electrification. Space & Science: ALMA observations reveal a hot wind from Sagittarius A*, our Milky Way’s black hole. Skills & STEM: Canadian trades and student science shine at Skills Canada nationals and NSERC’s Science Exposed photo contest.

AI Strategy Rollout: Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled Canada’s long-awaited national AI strategy, aiming to create 250,000 AI-related jobs and boost GDP, with a $500M Canadian Tech Growth Fund for AI scale-ups plus support for data-centre compute capacity by 2030. Streaming Policy U-Turn: Ottawa told the CRTC to drop plans to triple streamer contributions for Canadian content (from 5% to 15%), opting instead for hundreds of millions in sector funding to protect subscription affordability. Health & Equity: The new Canadian Medical Association president, Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi, put access to equitable, timely primary care and reducing Indigenous health inequities at the top of his agenda. Water Infrastructure Stress: Montreal’s emergency water-main repairs are driving island-wide conservation requests of about 7% as aging pipes and peak demand collide. Mining Innovation Call: Wheaton Precious Metals launched the next Future of Mining Challenge, offering $1M for clean-tech solutions to improve ore knowledge or extraction while reducing land impacts. Defence Industry Tie-Up: Fincantieri’s WASS Submarine Systems and Magellan Aerospace signed an MoU to expand Canadian underwater defence capabilities, including torpedo-related industrial cooperation. Energy/Industry Partnership: Canada and South Korea expanded cooperation on energy security and critical minerals, with potential for major economic impact and job creation.

Canadian AI Strategy: Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a new national AI plan with $2.3B for skills, adoption and startups, plus a $500M “Canadian Tech Growth Fund,” but critics say it’s short on timelines, worker protections and details on privacy, safety and data-centre impacts. Data Centres Debate: A new Angus Reid poll finds 68% of Canadians oppose large AI data centres near home, even as 46% support domestic AI infrastructure for sovereignty. Labour Pushback: Unions warn the strategy doesn’t spell out how Ottawa will prevent or manage AI-driven job losses. Online Streaming Rules: Canada softened a proposed Netflix-style levy after affordability concerns, directing the regulator to revisit rules under the Online Streaming Act. AI in Driving: HKUST and CalmCar launched an “Physical AI” innovation centre aimed at making autonomous systems more reliable by grounding AI in physical understanding. Sports Tech & Rules: FIFA expanded World Cup tech, including a connected match ball and new VAR review options. Local STEM Win: A Kelowna student won a $120K Schulich Leader Scholarship for engineering physics.

Federal AI Strategy: Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to unveil Canada’s new artificial intelligence strategy in Toronto, with a focus on building public trust, worker empowerment, privacy and online safety, and support for Canadian companies. Data Centres & Public Backlash: York University research says Canada’s new AI data centres are set to jump from 1.6 GW of active capacity to 13.2 GW in proposed projects, while Angus Reid polling finds 68% of Canadians oppose a large AI data centre near home. Climate Policy Scrutiny: A new analysis from the Canadian Climate Institute questions whether Alberta’s carbon-pricing-and-pipeline deal will meaningfully cut emissions, warning reductions may be delayed or minimal. Food Waste Tech: McMaster researchers estimate Canada’s “invisible” spoilage drives about $58B in avoidable food waste and propose FreshTrack sensors to monitor freshness and reduce unsafe throwouts. Security & AI: A test of 13+ AI models against a vulnerable app found GPT-5.5 solved the challenge most often, while Gemini largely refused. Public Safety: Quebec’s lack of bouncy-castle rules follows a Montreal toddler death after high winds, and Manitoba highway fatalities are running ahead of last year.

AI Policy Push: Ottawa is asking public servants for ideas on using AI at work as the federal “AI for All” strategy nears release, but a new report says Canadians’ trust in AI is still low. Tech & Economy: Canada has entered a “technical recession” after two straight quarters of GDP decline, adding pressure on businesses and households. Regulation Watch: The CRTC is ordered to review rules requiring online streamers to pay more, after U.S. concerns about costs. Health Breakthrough: Canadian pancreatic cancer specialists are preparing clinical trials for a pill (daraxonrasib) that in a Phase 3 study roughly doubled survival. Climate & Environment: Researchers warn fireflies face growing threats from development, pesticides and light pollution. Venture Capital: A new Lake Ontario “Founder Ball” pitch event aims to inject $1M into Canadian startups and revive a sluggish VC market. Defense & Industry: Canada confirms a $2.6B HIMARS procurement with U.S. launchers tied to strikes on Iran. Local Tech/Infrastructure: Mount Royal’s cross will go dark for major repairs, with relighting planned for fall 2027.

AI & Privacy: IG Wealth advisors are testing AI marketing tools but staying cautious due to Canadian anti-spam rules and prospect data handling. Digital Economy: BDC says if Canada’s lagging SMEs matched top performers’ digital and AI maturity, the economy could gain up to $350B and SME productivity could rise as much as 38%. Cybersecurity: U of T researchers warn that AI-powered worms built from public AI models could target essentially any online device, raising alarm for hospitals and critical services. Trade & Growth: Canada is pushing to renew USMCA for 16 years while running parallel talks on sector tariffs after GDP contraction sparked “technical recession” debate. Indigenous Growth: Deloitte highlights Indigenous partnerships and decision-making grounded in Indigenous worldviews as a major, underused growth lever. Environment & Health: DFO endorsed a plan to move Marineland belugas to Spain or U.S. aquariums; meanwhile, a polar bear death in Svalbard is linked to highly pathogenic bird flu. Skills & Youth: Alberta adds $300K to TELUS Spark’s trades program, building hands-on STEM-to-trades pathways for young people.

Clean Energy for AI Infrastructure: Max Power Mining signed an MoU with TerraVolt and partners to study using natural hydrogen for AI-powered data centers at its Lawson project in Saskatchewan. Defence Procurement: Canada confirmed it will buy 26 HIMARS rocket launchers from the U.S. government in a $2.6B deal, with deliveries starting in 2029. AI Cybersecurity Access: Canada says it’s now part of Anthropic’s Project Glasswing, giving select firms access to the Claude Mythos preview to help spot software vulnerabilities. Healthcare Tech: Researchers unveiled NeuroSense, a bedside system that continuously monitors cerebrospinal fluid to catch ICU brain-drain infections earlier and cut delays tied to lab testing. Agriculture Regulation: The CFIA plans updated livestock traceability rules for goats, sheep and cervids, plus revised pig requirements, while pausing new cattle/bison movement reporting for now. Policy & Privacy: Civil rights groups warn Canada’s rushed Bill C-22 lawful-access proposal is “almost certainly constitutionally fatal.”

AI & Cloud Sovereignty: A new report says Amazon, Microsoft and Google control 85% of Canada’s public cloud market, raising pressure for Ottawa’s upcoming AI strategy to build more Canadian-governed compute. Digital Rights & Courts: An Alberta judge warned Apple Canada and other tech firms could face “significant costs penalties” if they demand extra court orders before estate executors can access a deceased person’s digital assets. Health Tech Policy: A Globe and Mail look at Ottawa’s $298M “axe the fax” e-prescribing tool, PrescribeIT, shows why it failed—name-matching glitches and doctors turning off two-way messaging. Fintech & Crypto: Robinhood completed its WonderFi acquisition, giving it a regulated foothold in Canada and expanding crypto access. Public Safety & Transport: A fatal trucking crash in Manitoba spotlights “chameleon carrier” practices after a company reportedly lost its safety certificate but kept operating under a new name. Health Data & Cancer: A study finds about 55,000 expected cancer diagnoses were “missing” during early COVID-19 disruptions in seven high-income countries, including Canada.

Poverty & Policy Watch: Food Banks Canada says there’s a “glimmer of hope” on poverty reduction, but grades are fragile—Canada overall lands at a D+ and only Manitoba and Quebec score above C. Public Transit Funding: Ottawa and Quebec have a deal in the works that could be worth nearly $6B, covering Quebec’s share under the Canada Public Transit Fund for Montreal’s Blue Line and Quebec City’s tramway. Fintech & Investing: Robinhood is entering Canada after closing its WonderFi acquisition, intensifying competition for self-directed investors. AI in Personal Finance: A Fidelity survey finds many pre-retirees are using AI for retirement planning, but experts warn it can miss the full picture. Health & Research: A Phase 3 trial reports an experimental pancreatic cancer drug nearly doubling survival time, with Canadian oncologists among those following the results. Life Sciences & Industry Tech: SCIEX launched the novus V55 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with AI-enabled software for faster lab testing. Environment & Indigenous Communities: Canada funds Indigenous-led research on plastic pollution impacts, targeting how microplastics move through local waterways and food systems. Accessibility: Air Canada published its 2026–2029 accessibility plan with 157 initiatives to reduce barriers for travellers and employees with disabilities.

Chronic Wasting Disease Research: A Louisiana lab is using microscopic tissue testing on deer samples to detect chronic wasting disease, which has spread across North America including several Canadian provinces. Space Science: An international team using CSIRO’s ASKAP radio telescope has identified the source of a rare “long-period radio transient,” pointing to a white dwarf system that repeats every 1.4 hours. AI & Data Centres: DMG Blockchain Solutions signed a letter of intent for 50 MW of AI data-centre colocation at its B.C. facility, with phased delivery starting in late 2026. EV Security: A federal memo warns that connected-vehicle data from advanced EVs could enable tracking or surveillance, raising concerns tied to Chinese-made vehicles. Work & Rights: A B.C. court decision on remote work suggests employers must handle return-to-office changes carefully to avoid constructive dismissal claims. Clean Industry: Rio Tinto commissioned a low-carbon aluminium smelter expansion in Québec, boosting output using AP60 technology. World Cup Tech: FIFA unveiled “Trionda,” a smart, three-nation match ball for the 2026 tournament hosted by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Defence Procurement: Germany’s TKMS says it could deliver four Type 212CD submarines to Canada by 2036 if Norway and Germany adjust their own plans. Health Research: Idorsia reported new Phase 3 analyses suggesting aprocitentan reduces albuminuria and kidney-risk markers in resistant hypertension.

Indigenous Affairs: Ottawa has ordered an independent financial audit of the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages after anonymous complaints, with critics alleging the office spent heavily on travel and a major conference instead of measurable language support. Public Safety & Weather Resilience: Malpeque Bay, P.E.I., opened an emergency centre in the community hall with generators, charging, beds, showers and supplies to help residents during extreme storms and power outages. Health & Research: Claude Lemieux’s family says it will donate his brain to Boston University’s CTE Center to study the long-term effects of repeated head impacts. Tech & Culture: Toronto is bringing back Toronto Video Game Month for a second year, with free and low-cost gaming, AR/VR and workshops across the city. Science & Food Systems: McMaster researchers are exploring smart sensors and camera-based monitoring to catch food spoilage earlier and cut Canada’s massive avoidable food waste. Policy & Privacy: A cross-border coalition warns Canada’s Bill C-22 surveillance plan could create backdoors that undermine privacy rights in both countries. Economy & Jobs: Statistics Canada data shows youth joblessness continues to rise as Canada faces a “technical recession” debate.

Aluminium Expansion in Quebec: Rio Tinto has begun commissioning its $1.5B AP60 smelter expansion at Arvida, adding 160,000 tonnes of annual capacity (to 220,000 total) by end-2026, with 100 permanent jobs and lower-carbon output tied to hydropower. Agriculture Research Fight: A Foothills MP says AAFC’s planned closure of seven research centres and experimental farms would permanently damage Canada’s agricultural science, food security, and regional breeding programs. Weather Watch: Environment Canada issued rainfall warnings for Alberta and B.C. (50–100 mm possible) plus flood alerts tied to snowmelt and heavy rain in southeastern B.C. Biodiversity Tech: University of Kansas Monarch Watch is using solar-powered radio tags to turn monarch migration hypotheses into tracked facts across Canada and Mexico. Defence Tech Procurement: Canada is negotiating to buy Saab’s GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft, aiming for RCAF’s first AEW&C capability and major aerospace jobs. Digital Safety: G7 ministers agreed on a coordinated plan to better protect children online, including stronger standards and age checks.

Canada–Ukraine Defence Tech: Ottawa and Kyiv have set up a joint venture, Airlogix-Sentinel, to manufacture advanced reconnaissance drones in Canada for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, tying Canadian unmanned-systems know-how to Ukrainian front-line needs. AI & Sovereignty: Cohere launched open-source Command A+ for data-sensitive, sovereign deployments, aiming to let governments and regulated industries run their own “intelligence layer” with full control. Border Tech & Privacy: Canada’s CBSA president says crossing isn’t harder, but U.S. customs data shows record searches of electronics, including phones and smart devices. Health Research: U of T sleep-breathing work is feeding into a phase 3 sleep apnea drug trial showing improved airway openness and oxygen levels. Climate & Wildfire Recovery: A northern Manitoba First Nation wildfire response continues as residents return, while reporting highlights how faster tree loss can outpace replanting. Economy Watch: StatsCan says Canada’s Q1 GDP shrank, intensifying debate over recession timing.

Canada-Ukraine Defence Tech: Canada and Ukraine are teaming up to manufacture advanced reconnaissance drones in a new joint venture, Airlogix-Sentinel, with a Canadian production line aimed at speeding delivery to Ukrainian forces. Responsible AI: Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke with Pope Leo XIV about AI that must “serve humanity,” after the Vatican urged governments to slow down AI development. Health Policy Impact: A UBC study in JAMA Health Forum finds B.C.’s free contraception policy sharply cut out-of-pocket costs, especially for people in their 20s. Tech & Business: Wall Street hit record closing highs as Dell’s forecast boost lifted tech and chip stocks, while investors watched potential U.S.-Iran deal updates. Canadian Economy Watch: Canada’s economy is being framed as a technical recession after Q1 weakness, with economists pointing to fragile growth and tariff uncertainty. Legal & Public Accountability: A watchdog report says CSIS failed to report potentially unlawful activity and Charter violations to federal ministers. Science & Energy: Researchers report “white hydrogen” seeping from billion-year-old rocks at Ontario’s Kidd Creek mine, hinting at a new path for clean hydrogen supply. EV Adoption: JD Power says EV consideration in Canada is rising, but cold-weather concerns still hold some buyers back.

Rare Bear Attack: Hrishikesh Koloth, a 27-year-old MMA trainee from Kerala, was killed in a bear attack at a remote uranium exploration site in northern Saskatchewan; a civilian worker shot the bear and investigators are probing the incident with RCMP and wildlife teams. Public Safety & Crime: Police say the Lawrence Bishnoi gang sent a letter claiming it could mobilize 1,000 gunmen across Canada, tied to extortion “tax” demands. AI & Privacy: Ottawa police charged two men in a case alleging AI-generated deepfakes of women in violent/sexual scenes without consent, with up to 25 alleged victims. Health Research: McMaster researchers report air pollution exposure is linked to measurable brain health differences, while a Lancet study suggests a blood test could flag Alzheimer’s proteins decades early. EV Policy & Industry: Tesla is threatening Manitoba with legal action over its removal from the EV rebate program; meanwhile, federal EV rebate claims hit $122M but dealers say they’re still waiting on payments. Canada-India Tech & Trade: Canada and India launched a trade and investment forum and pushed CEPA talks toward a year-end finish, targeting $50B trade by 2030. Mining & Materials: Honey Badger Silver starts updated PEA and resource work for its Prairie Creek silver-zinc-lead project as metal prices surge. Maritime Autonomy: Davie and Kraken will collaborate to build and integrate autonomous maritime systems in Canada.