TORONTO — More than 200 Canadian tech founders, executives and investors are calling on their peers to uphold diversity, equity and inclusion values as pressure mounts to cull such programs. 

“Powerful forces in our tech sector want to reshape Canada in the image of those who see inclusion as an obstacle, not an advantage,” reads the open letter, dated Feb. 23.

At the time of publication 208 people from Canada’s tech industry had signed the letter, with supporters—most of them women—including Arlene Dickinson, managing general partner at District Ventures Capital, Willful CEO Erin Bury, Startup Canada CEO Kayla Isabelle, and media personality Amber Mac. 

The letter is a counterpoint to recent efforts by high-profile tech leaders to influence government policy and curb DEI efforts, said Laura Gabor, co-founder of health and climate startup Ecologicca and one of the people who helped orchestrate the open letter. 

It references recent moves by Shopify, Canada’s largest tech company, to walk back DEI initiatives. The Logic reported last week that the commerce firm laid off its team supporting Black, Indigenous and women entrepreneurs, as it ended social impact programs. 

The letter also raises concerns about Shopify’s willingness to host rapper Kanye West’s online store selling a swastika T-shirt. The company took the store offline earlier this month about 24 hours after the Nazi shirt appeared, with Shopify’s lawyer saying the company had only done so because it was “a stunt” and “not a good faith attempt to make money.”

The letter claims there has been a broader shift among Canada’s tech leaders towards the “divisive politics of our southern neighbour,” and warns against unelected business leaders influencing government. 

“Businesses should not run the government,” it reads. “The government should not be beholden to business interests that prioritize profit over people.”

Some of Canada’s most prominent tech leaders have ramped up efforts recently to influence government policy. Earlier this month, a group of entrepreneurs launched a website called Build Canada—whose backers include Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke, Borrowell CEO Andrew Graham, Wealthsimple co-founder Michael Katchen and League founder and CEO Michael Serbinis—which hosts their policy proposals on issues including immigration, health care, transportation and trade. 

The Build Canada website removed its list of supporters last week. While the initiative is non-partisan, some of its most vocal supporters have been explicit about their support for the Conservative Party and its leader Pierre Poilievre. 

“This small group of powerful, rich, generally, white men do not speak for the entirety of Canadian tech,” Gabor told The Logic. 

The rightward drift in Canada reflects the U.S. tech sector’s ties with the Republican Party and President Donald Trump, with attacks on DEI and “wokeness” being core features of the alliance. 

A string of U.S. tech giants, including Meta, Amazon and Google, have scrapped DEI initiatives since Trump’s inauguration, as the president moves to block federal grants and contracts for companies with “equity-related” programs. 

“We must reject efforts to erase diversity, dismantle inclusion, and undermine equity,” reads the open letter, which urges entrepreneurs not to tolerate, platform or profit from hate.

“The future of our industry—and our country—depends on defending what makes us different,” it reads. “We urge all Canadians to stand up for equality and send a clear message: We do not support businesses that abandon these values.”