Canada’s Next Frontier: A Sovereign Layer for Citizen Data
Canada has the opportunity—and the imperative—to lead the world in data sovereignty. As artificial intelligence reshapes global power dynamics, the nation must ensure that citizen data is protected, programmable, and anchored in democratic control. This policy vision outlines a 10-year roadmap for establishing a national Layer 2 data infrastructure, governed by a consortium of trusted Canadian institutions—from universities and hospitals to telecom giants. By embedding data ownership into the digital fabric of public services, Canada can future-proof its AI strategy, reduce cloud costs, and set a global standard for ethical data governance.