As Canada moves ahead with a national artificial intelligence strategy, QueerTech says the country’s AI future must be built with inclusion, literacy, and safety at the centre.
The national nonprofit, which works to advance 2SLGBTQIA+ talent, entrepreneurship, and inclusive technology across Canada’s tech ecosystem, responded to the launch of AI for All, Canada’s new national AI strategy, by emphasizing the importance of ensuring 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians are part of the country’s AI transformation.
Announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney, AI for All is designed to accelerate AI adoption across the economy while supporting skills development, job creation, and trust in the technology. The federal government says the strategy aims to create up to 90,000 AI-related jobs and work placement opportunities for young Canadians by 2031, while helping create up to 250,000 new jobs through broader AI adoption.
For QueerTech, those ambitions come with a responsibility to ensure that AI opportunity reaches communities that have historically faced barriers entering and advancing in tech.
The organization says AI literacy and safety must be treated as equity issues, not just technical or economic ones. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in workplaces, hiring systems, public services, and digital products, QueerTech is calling attention to who has access to training, who is represented in the development process, and who may be harmed when systems are built without inclusive safeguards.
That work is already underway through QT Inclusive AI, QueerTech’s national initiative focused on advancing inclusive and trustworthy AI across Canada’s technology ecosystem. The initiative brings together research, training, practical tools, community participation, and partnerships with industry, government, and civil society.
QueerTech’s recent research has highlighted gaps in responsible AI readiness, including limited bias testing and a lack of inclusion policies at many organizations. The organization has argued that inclusive AI cannot be treated as a nice-to-have if Canada wants to build technologies that earn public trust and serve a diverse population.
The timing is significant for employers as well. As AI tools become more common in recruitment, workforce planning, performance management, and employee support, HR and people teams will need to understand not only how to use these systems, but how to evaluate their impact on equity, privacy, and workplace inclusion.
For Canadian tech companies, that means AI adoption cannot be separated from talent strategy. Building an AI-ready workforce will require more than new tools. It will require training, governance, inclusive design practices, and stronger pathways for underrepresented talent to participate in the jobs and leadership roles being created.
QueerTech’s message is that Canada’s AI strategy will be strongest if it reflects the people it is meant to serve.
As AI for All moves from announcement to implementation, the challenge for government, employers, and the broader tech ecosystem will be ensuring that “for all” is not just branding, but a measurable commitment.