Benchmarking Canada’s Tech Industry: Responsible Practices & 2SLGBTQI+ Outcomes Research Report
Is Canada ready to build AI that works for everyone?
We’re proud to announce our latest study, Inclusive AI Development | Benchmarking Canada’s Tech Industry: Responsible Practices & 2SLGBTQI+ Outcomes Research Report. This report is the first of its kind in Canada to examine the country’s readiness to develop and deploy AI systems responsibly and inclusively, with particular attention to 2SLGBTQI+ realities.
This study was conducted by QueerTech and supported by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE).
About Our Report
Inclusive AI shouldn’t be optional.
The systems being built today already decide who gets hired, funded, flagged, believed, and left out. This study is an important step toward understanding how inclusive AI is currently being developed and deployed across the Canadian tech ecosystem, and what it will take to strengthen responsible practices moving forward.
The report benchmarks current sector approaches to responsible systems design, explores disparities in reported priority versus in-practice proficiency, identifies critical gaps, and highlights opportunities to advance more equitable AI practices across the Canadian tech ecosystem.
Methodology
The study involved an online survey of 100 AI product developers in Canada, working across leadership, engineering, product, operations, and responsible AI roles and are involved at multiple stages of the AI product lifecycle.
We asked the following research questions:
- What is the existing approach towards inclusion, belonging and diversity in the Canadian AI ecosystem at each stage of AI product development?
- What are the current challenges that AI developers face at each stage of AI product development when addressing the needs of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals in AI systems?
- What knowledge gaps and resource needs do AI developers have in designing systems that serve and reflect diverse users, specifically 2SLGBTQI+ communities?
The numbers show the gap
fewer than
1 in 10
organizations have comprehensive bias testing
and over
50%
lack inclusion policies
Recommendations for Canadian Policy Makers
Canada’s AI future will be defined by what we choose to normalize and incentivize now.
The report features a series of recommendations, designed for Canadian regulators shaping AI governance, public procurement, innovation supports, workforce development, and economic resilience. They focus on strengthening Canada’s capacity to develop and deploy AI responsibly and inclusively in practice, not only by addressing harm after the fact, but by establishing stronger habits, systems, and accountability from the outset.
Explore Our Findings
Whether you're building, funding, regulating, or researching AI, this report provides the evidence and roadmap to move forward. Because inclusive AI shouldn't be optional, it should be the standard.
QT Inclusive AI
The report is part of QT Inclusive AI, a national initiative designed to ensure that artificial intelligence is developed responsibly and to shape a future where technology strengthens equity rather than undermines it. In addition to this report, QT Inclusive AI will provide practical tools, learning opportunities, and collaborative spaces to help organizations build more responsible AI systems.
Visit the QT Inclusive AI webpage to learn more.
