Saskatchewan Advocates Urge Provincial AI Strategy
Saskatchewan advocates are calling for a provincial AI strategy following the federal government's "AI for All" launch on June 4, per Global News. Alex Fallon, founder of Artificial Intelligence Saskatchewan (AiSK), told Global News the federal strategy provides "clarity and certainty to industry and academics" and urged the province to align its policies accordingly. Innovation Saskatchewan CEO Kari Harvey stated the province supports AI adoption and is helping businesses adopt it "safely and in ways that match their size, capacity and business needs" (Global News). Privacy Commissioner Grace Hession David told Global News a provincial strategy could guard against surveillance risks from deepfakes and facial recognition, warning that without governance guidance AI "can really turn into a massive surveillance technique." Saskatchewan's AI advocates pointed to agriculture, mining, and manufacturing as sectors where targeted provincial policy could yield distinctive value.
What happened
Canada's federal "AI for All" strategy, launched June 4 by Prime Minister Mark Carney, is built around three guiding principles - trust, opportunity, and sovereignty - organised into six pillars, per the Prime Minister's Office (pm.gc.ca). Advocates in Saskatchewan told Global News the federal announcement is welcome and said a complementary provincial strategy is now needed. Alex Fallon, founder of Artificial Intelligence Saskatchewan (AiSK), said the federal announcement gives "clarity and certainty to industry and academics" and called on the province to align with it: "How do we align to it? How does industry benefit from that strategy?" (Global News). Fallon framed talent retention and support for startups and medium-sized companies as key priorities (Global News).
Provincial response
Innovation Saskatchewan CEO Kari Harvey told Global News the province is taking "a responsible and coordinated approach to AI adoption, supporting practical use across government and our economy." Harvey said the province is supporting AI literacy and offering practical learning opportunities so businesses can adopt AI "safely and in ways that match their size, capacity and business needs" (Global News). No formal provincial AI strategy has been announced; Saskatchewan does not currently have a policy framework equivalent to those in Ontario or Alberta, per Global News.
Privacy and governance
Saskatchewan Privacy Commissioner Grace Hession David told Global News that a provincial AI strategy could protect residents from surveillance risks. Without guidance, she said, AI "can really turn into a massive surveillance technique" (Global News), citing deepfakes and facial recognition as specific concerns. Hession David said education is currently the best protection available to residents.
Sector focus
Fallon told Global News Saskatchewan's best opportunity lies in applying AI to its existing strengths: "I think the real opportunity for AI in Saskatchewan is how we apply it to our key sectors. So, using AI in mining operations, in farming, agriculture, and manufacturing" (Global News). Saskatoon-based agtech company Croptimistic, which uses AI to help farmers map soil, was cited by AI Minister Evan Solomon in his opening address for the national strategy, per Global News.
What to watch
Whether Saskatchewan announces a formal provincial strategy following the federal "AI for All" launch, and whether it addresses data-sharing, privacy, procurement rules, and workforce training in the province's leading sectors - agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.
Scoring Rationale
A regional advocacy story with no confirmed provincial policy action - Saskatchewan advocates and the Privacy Commissioner are calling for a strategy that does not yet exist. The story provides useful context on how Canada's federal "AI for All" is landing at the provincial level, but its direct practitioner relevance is limited to Canadian readers tracking subnational AI governance developments.
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