Thank you.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, honourable members and fellow panellists. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before this committee on a matter of critical importance to Canada's economic future.
We stand at a decisive inflection point. We possess world-leading AI research and innovation, yet we confront a systemic productivity crisis that has allowed our national growth to stall for decades. We train brilliant minds, engineers and researchers, only to witness them leave because the essential domestic infrastructure required to commercialize their innovation does not exist. Seventy-five per cent of AI patents developed in Canada are owned by foreign entities, and our most valuable talent inevitably follows the computing infrastructure down south.
In today's AI era, compute power is national power, and we cannot adopt AI at scale without the absolute confidence that our proprietary data, operational intelligence and competitive advantages remain under Canadian jurisdiction. This isn't just my belief; this is a message we hear from Canadian entities looking to adopt AI themselves. They want clarity on the Canadian definition of AI sovereignty, and they want consistency in how that definition is used. Data sovereignty is a necessary component, but to be truly sovereign we need full operational control over the infrastructure itself. This includes the facilities, the hardware, the networks, the operations and the data. It means Canadian operational control across every layer and Canadian jurisdiction throughout, limiting foreign control or exposure to extraterritorial laws. We call this sovereign by design, built from the ground up, not retrofitted.
At Telus, we have moved beyond debate and have responded to this national challenge with decisive action. We built Canada's first fully sovereign AI factory, which opened its doors in Rimouski in September 2025. It features Canada's fastest and most powerful supercomputer, bringing the same cutting-edge capabilities that power AI innovation in Silicon Valley right here to Canadian soil. Partnering with the world's leading AI infrastructure provider, Nvidia, we're delivering the world's best technology without compromising sovereignty. Furthermore, our facilities operate in a LEED gold-certified building, powered by 99% renewable energy through Hydro-Québec and exhibiting industry-leading energy efficiency. This infrastructure reflects essential Canadian environmental values, proving that large-scale AI can align with a sustainable, low-carbon future.
Unlike many announcements that have merely announced intentions, we are fully operational today, actively serving Canadian organizations. Telus has been part of—and leading—Canada's AI ecosystem for over a decade now, working with research institutions like Mila, Amii and Vector, and with industry partners, to advance responsible AI adoption. Today, alongside our consortium partners, including leaders like Cohere, we're offering the full stack of AI solutions: the infrastructure, the platforms and the applications that Canadian organizations need to deploy AI at scale while maintaining complete control. This is critical for our industry and our national economic security. Canadian manufacturers can deploy AI without sending data abroad. Researchers can train models here, keeping innovation at home. Health care institutions can leverage AI for patient care without compromising privacy.
As the government works to scale AI adoption across public institutions and to nurture a domestic ecosystem, we must eliminate ambiguity. We need clarity on what “sovereign” truly means, clear definitions that distinguish between data residency and operational control, and procurement standards that prioritize Canadian-controlled infrastructure.
Telus stands ready to partner with the Government of Canada, this committee and Canadian industry to advance this critical infrastructure. We have the talent, the resources and now the infrastructure. We need continued commitment to build and a policy framework that gives businesses the confidence to continue building here, ensuring that Canada owns its AI future and doesn't merely participate in someone else's.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I look forward to your questions.