The Government of Canada has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Toronto-based Cohere to accelerate the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public services and reinforce the country’s global technology leadership.
The agreement was signed by Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement.
Cohere, a Canadian developer of large-language models, will work with the government to explore opportunities to integrate AI technologies across federal departments. The aim is to improve efficiency within the public service while supporting the growth of a made-in-Canada AI sector.
The partnership underlines Ottawa’s commitment to foster innovation, support local talent and create jobs, while setting responsible AI standards on the global stage. Officials said the deal is also a step toward safeguarding digital sovereignty and ensuring Canada remains competitive in an AI-driven economy.
“There’s no better place to leverage the innovative technology of artificial intelligence than here in our own backyard, and no better use than in the service of Canadians,” said Solomon.
“This MoU with Cohere is an opportunity to explore how sovereign AI can strengthen public services, protect our digital sovereignty and create opportunities for Canadians,” said Lightbound.
Aidan Gomez, Chief Executive Officer, Cohere, said the partnership will help secure Canada’s role as a global AI leader while driving economic productivity and national security.
