One of Canada’s largest AI events is taking place in Montreal on Wednesday, and 37 Atlantic Canadian companies are set to attend. They boast products aimed at the health-care sector, energy, finance, manufacturing and cybersecurity. Minister of Justice Sean Fraser announced the Maritime companies’ participation in “ALL IN 2026.” “They’ll use this forum to connect with the customers, investors, and partners they need to grow,” he says in a government news release on Wednesday. More than 6,500 AI industry leaders are expected to attend the event from around the world. The Government of Canada says AI is a large and growing industry, currently employing more than 150,000 people in more than 3,500 Canadian companies developing the technology. The government also says the technology boosts productivity, strengthens industries and builds a competitive economy. “As artificial intelligence continues to transform the way the world works, New Brunswick companies are capitalizing on both the opportunities and the potential of this digital transformation,” says Luke Randall, the MLA responsible for Opportunities NB. A full list of the Atlantic Canadian companies set to attend “ALL IN 2026” is available on the government’s website. The initiative bringing the Maritime companies to the event is being led by Digital Nova Scotia, the industry association for the province’s technology sector. “Atlantic Canadian companies are really moving the needle when it comes to AI, and that work deserves a global audience. What often makes the biggest difference is getting into the right rooms and connecting with the people who can help them take the next step,” says Owen Sagness, CEO of Digital Nova Scotia. The association received $70,000 from the Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Agreement, which includes $49,000 from the federal government and $21,000 from the Atlantic provinces. “At a time when Canada is laser focused on building sovereign capabilities and new trade relationships, ensuring these companies can connect with the customers and investors they need to grow their businesses has never mattered more,” reads the government news release. The plan falls under the federal artificial intelligence strategy, called “AI for All,” which sets out to accelerate AI adoption and expand to global markets. In the plan, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon writes “AI is the major driver of innovation in Canada and around the world.” He points to a pediatric cardiologist in Halifax who uses an AI application he built to diagnose heart murmurs in newborns. “His technology could cut down wait times by many months for anxious parents to see a specialist, saving our health care system tens of millions of dollars,” Solomon says. He says Canada must be open to the opportunities that come with AI, “but we must also be candid about the real concerns.” The technology has been named as a threat to job security, privacy, sustainability, sovereignty and potentially humanity. As Ottawa rolls out its national AI strategy, there has also been mounting opposition to data centres required to power the industry. “Responding to these concerns and building responsible Canadian AI will not be easy, but it must be done. We will face these challenges head on,” says Solomon.
