montreal, quebec
Today's global challenges, including international peace and security, global economic stability and growth, and the digital transition, require Canadians and our allies to work together to find common solutions. Canada is working with our G7 partners to build a new era of cooperation rooted in trusted partnerships, competitive economies, and innovation that serves people and businesses.
Today, Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister of Economic Development for Quebec Region Canada, and Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister of Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Southern Ontario, concluded the G7 Industry, Digital and Technology Ministers' Meeting in Montreal, Quebec.
Ministers also met with representatives of the G7 countries of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, as well as South Korea. They discussed priorities and cooperation on topics such as industrial competitiveness, quantum technology, supply chain security, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Throughout the session, G7 Ministers spoke about the challenges faced in accessing critical inputs for industrial growth without developing economic dependence. They responded to a changing trade environment where removing barriers to innovation is more important than ever, while supporting industrial and digital transformation. To achieve this objective, G7 Ministers confirmed their desire to work together to foster cross-border business and investment and build the partnerships necessary to ensure continued economic vitality.
Under Canadian leadership and building on commitments made at the G7 Leaders Summit in Kananaskis, G7 countries welcomed the Small and Medium Enterprise AI Adoption Blueprint, a practical guide that provides small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with policy tools, trusted use cases, and deployment strategies to accelerate productive and responsible AI adoption. The Blueprint is accompanied by a new SME AI Toolkit, delivered under Canada's G7 Presidency, that provides concrete resources to help businesses adopt AI, improve their competitiveness, and scale in global markets.
Ministers also endorsed the G7 Industry, Digital and Technology Ministerial Declaration for 2025, which details areas for continued cooperation on key economic and technological issues. The outcome of this declaration will increase the competitiveness of G7 industries in an evolving global landscape.
On the periphery of the G7, Minister Solomon concluded a series of major international agreements.
- Two Memorandums of Understanding with the European Union to expand cooperation on AI, data governance and trusted digital services, and advance joint work on digital sovereignty
- Memorandum of Understanding with the UK on National Digital Public Infrastructure to strengthen common commitment to secure and interoperable digital systems
- Joint statement launching the new Canada-Germany Digital Alliance, a strategic framework to advance cooperation on AI, quantum, digital infrastructure and talent mobility
Minister Solomon and his German counterpart Carsten Wildberger also highlighted the upcoming call for joint proposals with Germany to accelerate the commercialization of quantum technologies. Similarly, Minister Solomon, together with UK Minister Ian Murray, highlighted the opportunity to express interest in a project that builds provision for a quantum communications demonstration between Canada and the UK.
These efforts will allow Canada and its partners to build common industrial strength, deepen the innovation ecosystem, and lay the digital foundations of tomorrow's economy.
