Cybersecurity

Canada to Toughen Foreign Investment Rules for AI, Space Technology

  • Government can stall even small deals for national security
  • It’s taking steps to curb China’s influence on key industries
Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s industry minister, speaks during a news conference in Ottawa in FebruaryPhotographer: David Kawai/Bloomberg
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Canada will tighten its scrutiny of foreign investments in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and space technology as the government expands its power to stall and block deals for national security reasons.

Non-Canadian companies will have to give advance warning to the government before they invest in or acquire Canadian entities in those key technology sectors, Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in an interview with Bloomberg. The tougher rules will also apply to investments in critical minerals and potentially other sectors, he said.