I wrote this brief in May 2025 and shared widely with government, NGO, and industry partners. Adding it here for everyone/ anyone to see and take ideas/ recommendations that might bring together a collective voice:
National AI Literacy Strategy for Canada and Global AI leadership
Literacy has long been the cornerstone of democratic participation, economic growth, and social inclusion. It is a key requirement for innovation.
Canada urgently requires a national AI literacy strategy to ensure our all Canadians (from youth to seniors) are not left behind in a rapidly transforming world. Crucially, this strategy must include children from the earliest years, as it is during this foundational period that core values, cognitive habits, and learning frameworks are established. Embedding AI literacy early supports the development of responsible, critical, and ethically grounded engagement with technology later in life.
An inclusive, values-driven approach to AI literacy also ensures the development of a diverse workforce, capable of bringing varied perspectives, experiences, and innovations to the design and deployment of AI technologies. Equity in access to AI education is critical to preventing systemic biases from being replicated or deepened by the very technologies shaping our future.
This document outlines the case for strategic investment by government, industry, and philanthropy, and policy intervention in AI literacy, calling for collaboration across civil society, government, and industry. It also recommends strong partnerships with other like-minded countries that share values and have already started to implement AI literacy strategies.
In parallel with Canada’s efforts to reduce interprovincial trade barriers, this strategy can also serve as a foundation for greater collaboration among provincial and territorial ministries of education. By aligning efforts across jurisdictions, Canada can ensure that all citizens—regardless of region—are adequately educated and prepared for the opportunities and challenges of an AI-driven future.
1. Historical Context: Why Literacy Evolves with Innovation
- Industrial Revolutions I & II: Traditional literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy empowered people to participate in democracy and drive economic development.
- Third Industrial Revolution: Digital literacy—coding, computational thinking, and digital collaboration—became essential.
- Fourth Industrial Revolution (Now): AI and data literacy are foundational.
- Fifth Industrial Revolution (Emerging): Human-centric skills (creativity, critical thinking, ethical judgment) flourish alongside technological fluency, ensuring strong human agency in AI design, development, deployment, and interaction.
2. Global Momentum and Canada’s Risk of Falling Behind in AI Literacy
Canada is at risk of losing global influence without an invitation to learn from, and contribute to, AI literacy frameworks. Recent international moves:
- United States (April 2025):
Executive Order mandates K–12 AI education, teacher training, industry partnerships, and lifelong learning. - China (April 2025):
National policy makes AI education mandatory in schools, with moral and ethical dimensions and rural inclusion. - European Union (February 2025):
AI Literacy is a legal requirement under the Artificial Intelligence Act for companies and users. - OECD AI Literacy Framework (Forthcoming May 2025):
The OECD is launching a global framework to help integrate AI literacy into primary and secondary education systems. It prioritises critical thinking, responsible use of AI, and equity in access—further underscoring the urgency of Canada’s response. - G7 Statement on AI for Prosperity (June 2025)
AI adoption begins with awareness and literacy. As these countries move quickly, Canada must catalyse its transformation by positioning itself as a leader, and include AI literacy, K12 education inclusive, in a national strategy. Doing so will not only safeguard national competitiveness but strengthen our international leadership, credibility, and influence in shaping responsible AI.
4. Education Pathways for AI Literacy
AI literacy must be embedded across a lifelong continuum of learning, encompassing three educational levels and three delivery modes:
Levels of Education
- K–12 Education
- Integrate AI concepts (ethics, algorithms, digital citizenship) across subjects.
- Provide equitable access to AI tools and teacher training in all communities.
- Ensure inclusive curriculum design reflecting diverse cultural contexts.
- Post-secondary Education
- Embed interdisciplinary AI literacy across all faculties (not just STEM).
- Support programs focused on ethics, philosophy, human-computer interaction, and social justice.
- Partner with industry to align curriculum with workforce needs.
- Workforce Skills Training
- Provide reskilling and upskilling opportunities for all age groups.
- Support workers in adapting to AI tools, automation, and changing job roles.
- Prioritise vulnerable sectors and communities at risk of exclusion
- Community-led Training
- Provide AI literacy training through organisations such as libraries, YMCA
- Prioritise vulnerable sectors, including seniors, and communities at risk of exclusion and AI manipulation
Types of Education
- Formal Education:
Structured curriculum and credentialed learning (e.g., school and university systems). - Non-formal Education:
Organised, flexible programs outside the formal system (e.g., after-school clubs, bootcamps, community-based learning). - Informal Education:
Self-directed, experiential learning via media, games, social networks, and real-world engagement with AI technologies.
Policy, industry, and philanthropic support across all three types of education will be essential to ensuring comprehensive, inclusive access to AI literacy.
5. Strategic Priorities for Canada
To be an international leader in responsible AI, Canada must:
- Develop and fund a National AI Literacy Strategy that can support the provinces and territories (especially Ministries and Departments of Education), and aligns with a renewed Canadian AI Strategy, and leverages work being done by international partners
- Create an AI Literacy advisory board that reflects Canada’s diversity in population, segments of society (academia, industry, government, civil society), and immediate Indigenous involvement
- Align and streamline Canada-funded training opportunities and remove duplication of efforts and resources
- Align Canada’s superclusters to streamline AI literacy training opportunities and remove duplication of efforts and resources
- Invest in AI public awareness and lifelong learning initiatives, including training for through community-led initiatives
- Support and align with provincial and territorial Departments and Ministries of Education
- Align all digital innovation funding for youth with federal strategy
- Build international partnerships, from our national roots (CCUNESCO, Canada UNICEF) and other global organisations, and put Canada in a leadership position in AI literacy.
6. Call to Action for Industry Leaders, Philanthropists, and Policymakers
AI literacy is not a luxury—it is right. It ensures social mobility, protects democracy, and drives ethical innovation.
Policy Leaders:
- Prioritise AI literacy in federal and provincial funding agendas
- Legislate ethical AI use in workforce training
- Include AI literacy strategy at the core of a new Canadian AI strategy
- Ensure public-private collaborations include equity mandates
- Include AI literacy in international partnerships in overall AI strategies
- Legislate AI literacy for all employees (both internal government public servants, and any Canadian company with employees who engage with AI systems)
Philanthropic & Industry Funders:
- Invest in inclusive AI education programs
- Support grassroots organisations to develop culturally responsive AI literacy programming
- Fund research on the social impacts of AI literacy and access gaps
- Fund research on AI education and collaboration with universities
You can contribute here to Canada’s AI strategy (until October 31 2025)
Sources:
Trump signs Executive Order for AI Literacy and Education for K–12 Schools
EU Artificial Intelligence Act mandates AI literacy
China makes AI education mandatory in schools starting September 2025
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