Carney’s Warning

During the debate, Chrystia Freeland suggested countering Donald Trump’s threat to our borders by rallying leaders from other like-minded democracies to form a new world order. Carney agreed with the approach, then went on to make an “important point” about securing our sovereignty:

“A huge element of securing Canada is going to be related to information warfare, it’s going to be related to cyber, it’s going to be related to artificial intelligence…It’s crucial that we’re building those capabilities on Canadian technology, to Canadian values, to protect Canadians, because we can’t rely on foreign suppliers for them. That is one of the new realities…the natural approach here is gone. That’s one of the main priorities I would have in terms of securing Canada.” (CPAC 38:03)

In effect, Carney is saying that Canadian sovereignty now hinges on cyber tools and artificial intelligence. And to secure it, we must own and control our own digital systems.

This is a huge leap outside the boundaries of Canada’s usual political discourse. It not only distinguishes Carney from the other candidates but from every other national leader. It also raises serious questions about how, as prime minister, he would achieve this goal. Let me raise three basic ones.

1. Where Do We Get the Resources?

Carney’s claim about the emerging link between digital technology and sovereignty is insightful and forward-looking. He knows that AI is already being used to diagnose illnesses, educate children, and prepare legal defenses—and he recognizes that our dependence on AI is about to skyrocket.

But Carney also realizes that relying on American digital infrastructure leaves us dangerously exposed to a new kind of risk.

What if, five years from now, the US decides to turn off or restrict our access to the AI systems that underpin our economy and services? Given the signals Trump is now sending, that risk has become too big to take, so we need our own AI tools and infrastructure.

The good news is that Canada is already a global leader in AI research, so we can produce cutting-edge AI. Unfortunately, we don’t own the infrastructure to deliver it—and the investment needed to build these systems is massive. Over the next five years, American firms will likely spend a trillion dollars on AI training, chips, data centers, and cloud computing.

To build even the first phase of a Canadian-owned AI infrastructure, we’d likely need at least $100 billion. At best, we could raise a fraction of that. Canada simply doesn’t have that kind of investment capital available. So, where will the money come from?

 2. Is a Multipolar World an Alternative Solution?

Carney agrees with Freeland’s proposal to reach out to “like-minded democracies” to forge a new world order. Perhaps such an initiative could include a plan to work together to build and operate shared AI infrastructure.

While such a network wouldn’t be fully owned and operated by Canadians, we could maintain considerable control over parts of it. More importantly, it would help create a multipolar AI ecosystem, preventing global dominance by the US or China.

The UK, the EU, Japan, India, Australia, and the Arab Emirates might be interested. Would such an alliance give Canada enough leverage to secure its digital sovereignty?

3. Will Canadians Get Behind the Project?

While Carney is right that sovereignty is increasingly digital, most Canadians—including most of the media—don’t yet grasp this. Cybersecurity and AI remain abstract concepts for many, and few appreciate what’s at stake. Making AI infrastructure a top government priority to protect our sovereignty might seem wildly out of touch.

This problem might solve itself with time. If AI really is hurtling toward us, in a couple of years, Canadians will be far more aware of it—and there will be little need to explain its importance.

Unfortunately, time is a luxury we don’t have.

The US has a huge head start on both AI products and infrastructure. It has vastly more talent, resources, and capital than Canada—and is moving forward with breathtaking speed. If there’s a window for us to close the gap, it’s already starting to shut.

Trump and his advisors get this. They know America is leading and see it as a golden opportunity to advance their “America First” agenda. Trump the isolationist has become Trump the expansionist, who, one way or another, seems determined to tighten his grip on Canada. Tariffs, intimidation, and misinformation are likely only the start.

If Carney plans to advance this idea of digital sovereignty, he needs Canadians behind him. Does he think he can bring them along? Does he plan to make this part of his election campaign?

A Leadership Moment

Carney is right: sovereignty is no longer just territorial—it’s also digital. He’s also right that Canadians cannot rely on the US to provide the infrastructure we need to exercise our sovereignty.

But owning our digital future will take an enormous amount of political capital. It will require difficult choices, bold investments, and the kind of leadership that built the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Carney has sounded the alarm—but does he have the will, and the plan, to act?

If he wins, the pressure to answer this question will be intense. And that takes us beyond warnings, and into strategy, alliances, and political risk. Perhaps the country is ready for that debate.

Mr. Carney?

Don Lenihan PhD is an expert in public engagement with a long-standing focus on how digital technologies are transforming societies, governments, and governance. This column appears weekly. To see earlier instalments in the series, click here.