India and Canada deepen AI ties at Toronto dialogue
The Consulate General of India in Toronto has hosted an India-Canada AI Dialogue with partners including the University of Waterloo, the Canada India Tech Council and Zoho.
Organisers positioned the event as a pre-summit dialogue linked to the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. The programme brought together Canadian ministers, senior officials and executives from academia and industry.
Policy focus
The dialogue centred on responsible AI, cross-border cooperation and the economic and social effects of AI adoption. Speakers discussed accountability, research ties and the direction of bilateral engagement ahead of the New Delhi summit.
"The India-Canada AI Dialogueue 2026 reflects our shared vision for shaping the future of artificial intelligence responsibly. As we build momentum toward the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, this engagement highlights how trusted partners like Canada can collaborate with India to drive innovation that is inclusive, ethical, and globally relevant," said Dinesh K. Patnaik, High Commissioner of India to Canada.
Canadian Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon spoke about AI's role across work, government and society.
"AI is no longer an abstract or future-facing conversation - it's shaping how we work, govern, and relate to one another. What makes the India-Canada AI Dialogueue so important is that it puts impact, accountability, and human outcomes at the center of the discussion. India and Canada bring different strengths, but a shared responsibility: to make sure this technology serves people, strengthens societies, and delivers real economic value," said Solomon.
Ontario message
Ontario Premier Doug Ford sent a message that framed the dialogue within a broader relationship across trade, investment and research.
"India and Canada share a deep and 1 longstanding partnership, one built on robust trade and investment, people-to-people ties and research partnerships in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence," said Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, Canada.
Ford also addressed the consulate's convening role in Toronto.
"Many thanks to the Consulate General of India in Toronto for convening this important gathering and for its continued leadership in fostering collaboration between our jurisdictions," said Ford.
Toronto ecosystem
Speakers also pointed to Toronto's position in AI research and commercial activity, as well as its links with India's technology sector. The organisers said the event aimed to connect Canadian and Indian researchers and innovators.
"Toronto is one of the world's most dynamic AI ecosystems. Hosting this Dialogueue here enabled meaningful connections between India's rapidly expanding AI landscape and Canadian innovators, creating a strong foundation for continued engagement ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026," said Kapidhwaja Pratap Singh, Acting Consul General of India in Toronto.
The University of Waterloo highlighted existing ties with India and areas of work that could shape future cooperation, including health and digital tools.
"Our deep ties with India, including a large and vibrant Indian diaspora, create natural pathways for partnership. By collaborating on large-scale clinical datasets, driving public health innovation, and expanding equitable access to advanced digital tools, we can accelerate responsible and ethical AI technology that delivers meaningful benefits for communities in both our countries," said Vivek Goel, President & VC, University of Waterloo.
Participants list
The speaker list included Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation & Trade, Ontario; Jeff Nankivell, CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; Paul Samson, President, CIGI; Nick Frosst, Co-Founder, Cohere; Julien Billot, CEO, Scale AI; Ramprakash Ramamoorthy, Director of AI Research, Zoho; Elissa Strome, Member of Canada's AI Advisory Council & ED, CIFAR; Mary Wells, Dean of Engineering, University of Waterloo and Member of Canada's AI Taskforce; Diane Gutiw, VP & Global AI Research Lead, CGI and Co-chair of Canada's Advisory Council on AI; Kundan Joshi, CEO, Canada India Tech Council; and Sanjeev Gill, AVP Innovation at University of Waterloo & Executive Director, WatSPEED.
Organisers said more than 600 leaders attended, including executives, policymakers and researchers from government, industry, academia and the wider innovation sector.
Next steps
The organisers said the dialogue set out themes for continued bilateral work and that the Canadian delegation expected to travel to the New Delhi summit and co-chair a working group on science.