There are a number of measures the federal government has taken in the past. There are programs, for example, run by granting councils that support talent, including the Canada research chairs.
What's a bit special about this type of funding is that it is specifically for the purpose of promoting talent development in AI. A fairly large portion of the funding will go to support research chairs. Funding is to support the recruitment of research chairs from outside Canada and for use in retaining top-quality researchers in Canada so they remain here and continue to have the ability to do their research.