Calan Breckon • Published October 7, 2025
If you run a business as a 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneur in Canada, a new door just opened for you. The Government of Canada selected Canada’s Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC, Formerly the CGLCC) to deliver the country’s first national program tailored to LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurship. Backed by a three-year, $25 million investment, this program builds support you can actually use: mentorship, supplier diversity access, trade missions, a strong support network across regions, and a centralized knowledge hub.
The Backstory of the CQCC and This Historic Grant
The Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC) is a national not-for-profit that’s been supporting 2SLGBTQI+ businesses for over 20 years. The organization pushed hard to get this program over the line, inspired by federal initiatives that supported other equity-deserving entrepreneurs. In June 2022, Minister Mary Ng announced the first-ever 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program at a CQCC summit, setting a clear path to scale the impact nationwide.
Here’s what makes this program different. The government used a co-development model with CQCC and other 2SLGBTQI+ business organizations. That meant building the structure with the community, not for it. Discussions started in the fall of 2022, a framework came together by March, and the public announcement followed in June.
- Fall 2022: Initial commitment and co-development talks begin
- March 2023: Core program framework drafted
- June 2023: Official announcement at the CQCC summit
The full program is $25 million over three years, concluding in March 2026. It’s designed to build programs that last, strengthen local support across Canada, and give you practical tools and pathways for growth. You can dig into the program details on the CQCC 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program page.
Why This Grant Matters After Years of Advocacy
CQCC focused on targeted advocacy for four years, calling for dedicated supports similar to those created for Black and women entrepreneurs. The case was clear: 2SLGBTQI+ businesses face both common and unique barriers, from limited access to mentorship and capital to discrimination in procurement. Getting to this moment took persistence, data, and partnership, and it was a long slog.
What that looked like in practice:
- Raising awareness with federal officials and the business community
- Sharing evidence on barriers and economic impact
- Partnering across the ecosystem to shape a strong national approach
The Economic Power of 2SLGBTQI+ Businesses in Canada
Your business is part of a powerful engine. 2SLGBTQI+ businesses contribute over $22 billion in economic activity and support nearly half a million jobs in Canada. CQCC built its case using national landscape studies first conducted in 2019 with Deloitte, then updated in 2021–2022. These studies identified persistent barriers and mapped the size and impact of the ecosystem. The data gave decision-makers clear proof that dedicated programming would strengthen both community outcomes and the overall economy.
Key outcomes from the research:
- Identified barriers like access to mentorship, networks, and capital
- Measured the size and impact of the 2SLGBTQI+ business ecosystem
Breaking Down the Three Main Pillars of the Program
The investment splits across three pillars, each designed to tackle real gaps over three years:
- Business Scale-Up Program, about $11.5 million
- Ecosystem Fund, about $8.5 million
- Knowledge Hub, about $3 million
Intersectionality sits at the center. That means special focus on supporting queer Black, Indigenous, and people of color, and trans entrepreneurs. It also means filling geographic gaps, especially in regions like Atlantic Canada and Northern Canada where supports are thin.
Business Scale-Up Program: National Support for Growth
The Business Scale-Up Program powers national offerings you can tap into right away. It focuses on helping you start and scale with mentorship, corporate access, global market entry, and stronger networks.
Core elements you can expect:
- Mentorship expansion: CQCC is growing its mentorship model beyond youth so entrepreneurs at any stage can connect with seasoned mentors. The structure may include cohorts, or self-directed matching, and aims to serve hundreds over three years. Research shows access to mentors is a top gap for 2SLGBTQI+ founders, so this expansion fills real need.
- Supplier diversity certification: CQCC will certify more businesses across Canada, with targeted outreach in underrepresented areas such as Atlantic Canada and the North. Certification opens doors to corporate procurement you might otherwise never see.
- Global market access: You’ll see an updated global incubator program delivered multiple times each year, paired with two trade missions annually over the next three years. Recent activity included a successful mission to Denver, with more destinations to come.
- Network strengthening: Expect more touchpoints to meet in person and online. If you’re a solo entrepreneur, the isolation can be heavy. Structured connection points, capacity-building, and skills training help you find community and grow faster.
Bold benefits of this pillar:
- Better access to buyers through supplier diversity
- Real mentorship that drives smarter decisions
- International growth via trade missions
- A stronger network that reduces isolation
No Direct Funding, But Building Foundations for Future Access
There’s no direct grants or loans in this program. The budget is focused on building programs, capacity, and infrastructure that you can use today. That said, CQCC will research investment models suitable for 2SLGBTQI+ businesses, learning from programs that serve women and Black entrepreneurs. The goal is to present a tested model to the federal government by 2026. In the meantime, mentorship and training can guide you through external options, such as loan programs you may qualify for, and help you use the capital well.
Ecosystem Fund: Strengthening Local Support Networks
This is where you’ll see long-term change. The Ecosystem Fund invests $8.5 million in the organizations that support you on the ground. Many regions lack formal supports, and some existing groups need staff, structure, and stable programming to serve you well.
The fund supports:
- Hiring staff or building capacity
- Developing and delivering local programming
- Helping new organizations launch and formalize
The aim is to build a strong national network of non-profits dedicated to 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs. With that network in place, national programs can flow into local chapters and partners who know your region. That means better access if you live outside major centers, and more support in areas like Atlantic Canada, the Northern Territories, and rural regions that often get overlooked.
While the fund doesn’t give direct grants to individual businesses, it equips the organizations that help you every day. Stronger local partners lead to better services, smarter referrals, and more programs where you live.
Knowledge Hub: Data, Research, and Resources for All
The Knowledge Hub invests $3 million into two core buckets: deeper research and a central resource collection.
Research priorities:
- Robust national data on barriers for 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs
- Regional insights, such as comparing Alberta or Northern Saskatchewan to Toronto
- Intersectional analysis to better support queer BIPOC founders and trans entrepreneurs
Resource priorities:
- A digital library of tools, templates, and educational content for both entrepreneurs and support organizations
- Self-paced learning to grow your business, plus materials partners can use locally
- Collaboration with educational institutions to build and deliver quality content
You’ll be able to tap into practical resources from anywhere in Canada. Digital life brings us closer but further apart, so the hub will meet you where you are while CQCC still invests in in-person connections. Keep an eye on the program page for updates.
Certification Options: Getting Recognized and Connected
The Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC) runs two complementary programs that help you stand out and help inclusive companies signal real commitment. One verifies LGBTQ+ ownership for procurement access. The other verifies meaningful inclusion for any company that serves, employs, or engages with the community.
Supplier Diversity Certification for 2SLGBTQI+-Owned Businesses
If your business is at least 51 percent owned, operated, and controlled by members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, certification can help you access corporate and government supply chains where LGBTQ+ businesses are underrepresented.
Benefits of certification:
- Access to supplier diversity procurement
- Connections to buyer networks and events
- Greater visibility and growth opportunities
This model aligns with global supplier diversity practices and complements certifications available to women-owned, Indigenous, and Black-owned businesses.
Rainbow Registered Accreditation for Inclusive Companies
Rainbow Registered is open to any Canadian business that can demonstrate rigorous 2SLGBTQI+ inclusive policies and practices. This accreditation verifies that you offer safe, welcoming spaces for both customers and employees. It is not about slapping a rainbow flag on for a month. It’s about year-round inclusion backed by real policies.
Verification elements often include:
- Clear inclusive policies and training
- Employee support and protections
- Consistent, year-round practices and accountability
This program is new and growing fast. As it expands, it encourages accredited companies to procure from 2SLGBTQI+ suppliers, which closes the loop and drives more business to certified entrepreneurs.
If you love learning through interviews and stories from queer founders, you can also listen to The Business Gay Podcast for weekly insights and practical ideas.
What This Means For You
You now have a clear path to grow with tailored supports. The program doesn’t hand out direct cash today, but it does hand you the things that move the needle: mentors, procurement access, trade missions, a stronger local network, and research-backed resources built for your reality. As the Knowledge Hub evolves and the Ecosystem Fund lifts up partners in every region, your access to support gets closer to home.
Use what’s available now:
- Get certified to unlock supplier diversity opportunities
- Join mentorship to sharpen decisions and speed up progress
- Track trade missions and global incubators for market expansion
- Watch for local programming as the Ecosystem Fund takes root
- Tap the Knowledge Hub as it grows with practical tools
The opening line still stands. If you’re a 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneur in Canada, this program is for you. Dive in, get connected, and help shape what comes next for LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurship.
