On behalf of Canada’s quantum sector, Quantum Industry Canada (QIC) CEO Lisa Lambert issued the following statement in response to Canada Strong: Budget 2025:
“Quantum technologies are rapidly becoming the next engine of economic growth and national security. They are already transforming how nations compute, communicate, sense, and secure, and the countries that scale first will set the pace for the rest of the world.
Budget 2025’s investment of $334.3 million over five years under the new Defence Industrial Strategy is a meaningful step, signalling that Canada recognizes quantum as critical infrastructure for both our economy and our defence. It also appears there are additional measures in the budget that could further support the sector’s development, and we’re keen to understand how these will be coordinated and implemented.
As the overall scale appears well below what’s needed to compete with global peers that are investing at industrial levels, we will continue to advocate for this to be just the start.
Canada was among the first countries to recognize the quantum opportunity. We built a world-class research base, vibrant startups, and a trusted reputation globally. According to a study referenced in Canada’s National Quantum Strategy, quantum could contribute more than 3% to Canada’s GDP by 2045, rivaling the size of our aerospace sector, an impact that could help make Canada the strongest economy in the G7. But that outcome isn’t guaranteed. It will take strategic, sustained investment today to realize, and the scale of support in this budget falls short of what’s required to get us there.
To lead, Canada must move from ideas to industrialization, investing at the scale the reality and opportunity demands to build, deploy, and export the quantum technologies that will defend our sovereignty today and drive our prosperity tomorrow.
QIC looks forward to collaborating with the Government of Canada to align policy, programs, procurement, and investment around a shared national mission: industrializing quantum in Canada for both economic advantage and strategic resilience — creating jobs, strengthening security, and growing prosperity for Canadians.”
— Lisa Lambert, CEO, Quantum Industry Canada (QIC)
