The Black Manitobans Chamber of Commerce (BMCC) acknowledges the announcement of the federal government’s AI Strategy Task Force by Minister Solomon. While we extend congratulations to all members, including Doyin Adeyemi, the sole Black Canadian appointee on a 28-member panel, we are deeply disappointed by the glaring lack of meaningful inclusion of Black Canadian voices.

A single appointment cannot be used to suggest progress in representation. Once again, Black Canadians are being sidelined from national conversations that will define Canada’s economic and technological future. If the government truly believes in the promise of One Canada, it must stop designing policies that repeatedly leave entire communities behind.

Black Canadians are leaders, builders, and innovators in the AI ecosystem. We are founders, engineers, data scientists, and policy experts. We deserve more than symbolic representation. We deserve full participation.

BMCC calls on the federal government to:
• Expand the Task Force to include more Black and equity-deserving leaders with industry and community expertise.
• Establish an inclusion accountability mechanism in all national innovation policy processes.
• Ensure that adoption, upskilling, and digital equity are priorities within the new AI strategy, especially for underrepresented communities.

We will continue to engage in the consultation process to ensure that the voices of Black Canadians are not only heard but respected and reflected in Canada’s AI roadmap. Canada cannot lead in AI if it continues to lag in inclusion.