The federal government will spend $28.7 million to train nearly 5,000 Canadian energy workers in artificial intelligence and machine learning skills, officials announced Tuesday in Edmonton.
The investment targets workers transitioning to careers in wind, solar, geothermal and hydrogen energy sectors, according to Employment and Social Development Canada.
Training program details
The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute will lead the AI Pathways project using $9 million from the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund over three years, the government said. The program will offer online and in-person training for mid-career workers, industry associations and unions across Canada.
An additional $19.7 million will expand Amii’s computing resources under the Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy, according to the announcement. The funding begins in 2025-26 and aims to help Canadian businesses bring AI products to market.
“Canada’s future depends on skilled workers,” said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families. “Investing and upskilling Canadian workers ensures they can adapt and succeed in an energy sector that’s changing faster than ever.”
Workforce transition challenges
About 1.2 million workers across all sectors will retire over the next three years, the government said. The Royal Bank of Canada estimates the net-zero transition could create up to 400,000 new jobs in Canada by 2030.
The AI training project is one of eight initiatives funded through the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund, which supports more than 10,000 Canadian workers, according to the government. Other projects focus on electric vehicle maintenance, green building retrofits and carbon management.
AI institute expansion
Amii is one of Canada’s three national AI institutes, alongside Mila in Montreal and the Vector Institute in Toronto. The federal funding will provide researchers, startups and businesses with access to secure AI computing resources in Canada, officials said.
“This vital support from the Government of Canada is a commitment to our nation’s future,” said Cam Linke, Amii CEO. “By expanding access to high-performance AI computing and equipping nearly 5,000 energy workers with the foundational AI literacy they need, we are empowering Canada to become the world’s most AI-literate workforce.”
The government committed approximately $20 million to Amii through the 2024 Fall Economic Statement to expand computing capacity for researchers and clients, according to the announcement.
