Minister Solomon Highlights Canada’s Commitment to AI Growth During Frontiers of AI Event
On June 25, 2025, as part of the annual Toronto Tech Week celebrations, the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, along with his role overseeing the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), attended the highly anticipated Frontiers of AI event. Hosted by MaRS Discovery District, Vector Institute, and the University of Toronto, this event brought together thought leaders and pioneers in the field of artificial intelligence to explore the future of Canada’s AI economy.
“AI is a powerful driver of growth, productivity and innovation. It’s key to making sure Canada not only competes – but leads – on the global stage. Today is about momentum. It’s about recognizing Canadian excellence and organizations, like the Vector Institute, a world-renowned leader in AI innovation. Organizations like Vector aren’t just riding the wave of AI. They are shaping it. By accelerating the development of Canadian life-saving products and services, they’re delivering real-world impact that benefits Canadians across the country,” expressed the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “With support from the Government of Canada, we’re making sure that momentum continues, and that Canadian ideas, talent, and breakthroughs have the support they need to grow and succeed.”
The day began at MaRS, a renowned innovation hub known for fostering the growth of science and technology startups. Minister Solomon took the opportunity to reinforce Canada’s strong leadership position in the AI landscape. He emphasized the Government of Canada’s commitment to collaborating with innovators to drive AI growth, create high-quality jobs, and elevate Canada’s presence on the global stage, highlighting the importance of continued partnerships to scale the country’s AI industry.
“We need to deliver better, more timely health care to Canadians. Innovative tools like artificial intelligence can help us improve patient outcomes, support health workers, and make our system more efficient and responsive,” stated the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health.
Throughout the day, Minister Solomon met with a range of businesses, including Ecopia AI, a cutting-edge Canadian tech company supported by FedDev Ontario. Ecopia is at the forefront of leveraging AI to produce high-precision mapping data for applications that span the globe, demonstrating how Canadian innovation is tackling complex global challenges.
A key highlight of the event was Minister Solomon’s visit to the Vector Institute, a world leader in AI research. At Vector, researchers are pushing the boundaries of AI applications, from improving access to liver transplants to revolutionizing cancer care. Vector’s secure health AI network is also enabling impactful solutions to critical healthcare issues, including staffing shortages, wait times, and patient outcomes.
In an exciting announcement, Minister Solomon revealed a $3.5 million investment to support HealthSpark, an initiative led by Vector aimed at accelerating AI-driven innovation in Canadian healthcare. The initiative will offer support to high-potential startups and scaleups, providing them with the training, mentorship, and resources needed to create AI solutions for some of the country’s most pressing healthcare challenges.
“Vector’s HealthSpark initiative is empowering Ontario’s boldest innovators to accelerate AI-driven solutions to some of health’s toughest challenges, from diagnostics to primary care and beyond. With support from the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, these promising companies gain access to Vector’s world-leading expertise in the safe development and deployment of health-related AI, helping them unlock commercial potential and deliver valuable benefits to patients, clinicians, and health institutions across Canada,” said Roxana Sultan, Chief Data Officer and Vice President, Health, Vector Institute.
The Canadian government is making strategic investments to ensure the widespread adoption of AI technologies. These efforts are not only designed to transform industries but also to improve lives, solve complex problems, and unlock new possibilities. With initiatives like HealthSpark, the government is driving real-world AI solutions that have the potential to reshape Canada’s future.
