Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC)

[FORMERLY CANADA'S 2SLGBTQI+ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - CGLCC] We often get the question: why do you exist? There are business chambers at the regional and national level, and corporations’ support for 2SLGBTQI+ initiatives is on the rise. It’s easy to give a by-the-numbers response. Canada is home to over 100,000 2SLGBTQI+-owned businesses. These businesses generate over $22 billion in economic activity and employ over 435,000 Canadians. In other words, 2SLGBTQI+ business is big business. However, 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs still face barriers. Nearly half have hidden who they were in business dealings to avoid losing opportunities, and more than a third have lost opportunities due to being 2SLGBTQI+. There is a growing number of organizations looking to change these stats – one connection at a time. A community of 2SLGBTQI+ businesses, government liaisons and even diverse procurement practices are helping tip the scales. CQCC is a coalition of all of these positive forces advocating for change to make a more inclusive Canadian economy possible. We do this by bringing people together, and highlighting the right resources for 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs to be even more successful. So, the answer is: we exist because 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs already have a huge impact on the Canadian economy, with barriers. Let’s see what kind of thriving and inclusive Canada is possible when we remove them.