Quebec Public Agencies Embrace AI with 54% Surge in Projects

The number of artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives within Quebec’s public administration has surged by 54 percent in under a year, according to the Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology (MCN). As of June 2025, the total AI projects had reached 258, up from 168 in October 2024. This rapid growth illustrates a significant shift in how public bodies are adopting technology to enhance service delivery.

More than half of these AI initiatives are operational, while 45 percent remain in development. The MCN cites various factors contributing to this trend. Enhanced accessibility to AI solutions and their adaptability to the specific needs of public agencies have prompted an increasing number of organizations to explore these technologies. The ministry noted, “AI solutions are now more accessible and better adapted to the needs of public bodies, which are turning to them more and more to improve the quality of services offered to the population or to automate certain tasks.”

Health Sector Leads AI Adoption

The health network and the higher education sector are at the forefront of this AI investment, with health-related projects making up roughly one-third of all initiatives. Among these, 81 projects focus on planning, prediction, and decision support. For example, the Ministry of Education has implemented a system designed to predict risks associated with student dropout rates from Grade 6 through Secondary 5. On the health side, a pilot project by the Ministry of Health and Social Services aims to develop a model that maps patient flow in hospitals to reduce emergency room wait times and hospital admissions.

AI assistants and conversational agents represent another significant category, with 68 initiatives focused on enhancing interaction with citizens. Other areas of application include automation with 36 projects, medical imaging with 27 initiatives, and geomatics with 22 projects. The MCN highlights that the health and social services network is one of the most active sectors in AI adoption, followed closely by higher education, which has 58 projects across various cégeps and universities.

Regulatory Framework Bolsters AI Confidence

The MCN attributes the increase in AI initiatives partly to a broader democratization of AI technology, with 83 public agencies reporting AI projects last spring, compared to 65 eight months prior—a significant 30 percent rise. The ministry emphasizes that newly established guidelines have fostered greater confidence among public bodies. In December 2024, the MCN introduced regulations for the responsible use of generative AI, detailing expectations for risk assessment and project development.

Since a ministerial order was enacted in February 2024, public agencies have been required to report any AI initiatives to the MCN annually, with the exception of cybersecurity-related projects.

Looking ahead, the MCN expects continued growth in AI usage within public administration. “AI technologies continue to evolve rapidly, while the needs of public bodies keep growing. As public bodies improve their ability to adopt these technologies, the conditions are favourable for new initiatives to emerge,” the ministry stated. The more firmly established framework ensures that AI is implemented safely and responsibly, paving the way for further advancements in the sector.