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Artificial Intelligence

In Question Period, members asked about the government’s $1.6-billion investment in the Canadian AI company Cohere. Conservatives argued that spending that much on a company already valued at over $36 billion is hard to justify while families face high costs of living, and said the money benefits well-connected Liberal insiders, pointing to two early investors in the company who now hold senior government roles. The government defended the investment, saying it chose to build this strategically important technology in Canada rather than buy it from abroad, that the government took an equity position so Canadians share in the returns, and that the deal is expected to create 1,000 jobs and bring $1.7 billion into Canada, with Conservatives’ criticism contrasting with that goal.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Aaron Gunn

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to pay for food and gas. The government should not give $1.6 billion to an AI company already worth $36 billion.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, at a time when many Canadian families are feeling the pinch of the cost of living crisis, how can the Liberal government justify taking $1.6 billion out of the pockets of Canadians and giving it to Cohere, an AI company valued at more than $36 billion? Is this AI company so strapped for cash that it has to take it from taxpayers who are struggling to put food on their tables and gas in their tanks, or is this just another example of the Liberals giving taxpayer-funded handouts to big corporations and their Liberal friends?

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Evan Solomon

Liberal
“We chose to invest in a Canadian artificial intelligence company instead of buying this technology from other countries. The government now owns part of the company, which will create 1,000 jobs and bring $1.7 billion into Canada.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have a choice. We can either build this strategically important technology here in Canada, or we can buy it from someone else. We choose to build in Canada, support Canadian champions and build safe, sovereign AI. With this company, we are taking an equity position so all Canadians can benefit. This company will create 1,000 jobs and invest $1.7 billion in computing here. This is what it means to build Canada strong and build sovereign, safe Canadian AI.

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Blaine Calkins

Conservative
“The government put $1.6 billion into the company Cohere, and that money benefits Liberal insiders. Two early investors in the company have close ties to the Prime Minister and now hold top government jobs. They stand to profit from this public money.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the federal government recently announced that it purchased a $1.6-billion stake in the artificial intelligence firm Cohere. We soon found out this money was being funnelled to well-connected Liberal insiders. Dominic Barton, the chair of Invest in Canada, and Patrick Pichette, the head of digital transformation Canada, were early investors in Cohere. They also have long-standing ties to the Prime Minister. Having been promoted to these high-profile government roles, they now stand to gain from the Liberal government’s so-called investment in Cohere. Why is it that every time the Prime Minister spends millions or billions, a Liberal insider is so easy to find?

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Evan Solomon

Liberal
“We must build safe artificial intelligence in Canada instead of waiting for others to do it. We are investing in Canadian companies to keep jobs and ideas here. The Conservatives would do nothing, but building our own technology lets us control our future.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are not going to wait for others to build AI. We are going to build safe Canadian AI. We are going to invest in Canadian companies. We are going to keep the jobs here in Canada. We are going to keep the intellectual property here in Canada. We are going to make sure that Canada has a seat at the table with this safe, sovereign technology. We will not do what the Conservatives would like us to do, which is nothing. We are building in Canada, because that is how we have control over the future.

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Blaine Calkins

Conservative

Linked statement

“The government is using public money to help its friends instead of regular Canadians. Dominic Barton made hundreds of millions from government contracts, and now he stands to gain from this AI funding too. I want the Prime Minister to explain why his friends are doing so well while other Canadians are barely hanging on.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this AI scandal perfectly illustrates why the government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers. It is a masquerade that is simply about using taxpayer dollars to reward their friends in the Liberal club. It is a hallmark of virtually every Liberal government. Let us take Dominic Barton, for example. As a former global managing director at McKinsey, he benefited from hundreds of millions of dollars in Liberal government contracts. Now, as an early investor in Cohere, he stands to gain once again. Can the Prime Minister please explain why his Liberal friends are doing so well, while so many other Canadians are just barely hanging on?

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Evan Solomon

Liberal
“Our investment in Cohere is about supporting Canadians, not picking winners and losers. Canada is one of only four countries that can build safe, independent artificial intelligence companies. Cohere will bring 1,000 jobs over three years and invest $1.7 billion here. The Conservatives should help build up Canada instead of criticizing this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this is not about what the Conservatives say, picking winners or losers. This is about investing in Canadians. They should try it for a while. Canadians are winners because they build here in Canada. We are one of the few middle powers. There are only four countries that have the capacity to build safe, sovereign companies. Cohere is a Canadian champion. It will put 1,000 jobs here in the next three years. It will invest $1.7 billion, and Canadians now can benefit from this company staying Canadian. The Conservatives should try to build Canada strong for a change.

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