Halifax’s Max Medyk will represent Canada at the G20 summit this week, where he plans to propose a measure aimed at enhancing the country’s competitiveness in artificial intelligence and productivity, starting in the immigration sector.
Medyk, who has navigated immigration systems in Ukraine, the United States, New Zealand and now Canada, knows the barriers firsthand.
“Only a small fraction of applicants use lawyers or consultants,” he said. “Not because they don’t want help, but because it’s either unaffordable or they don’t realize how risky it is to go it alone.”
In 2020, Medyk began creating online content to demystify immigration policy. Today, his following has grown to more than 400,000 across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, where he explains complex processes to newcomers. From those roots, he built a company serving more than 30,000 clients worldwide.
At the G20, Medyk will argue that Canada’s AI literacy gap poses a serious threat to the economy. A recent KPMG study ranks Canada 44th out of 47 countries in AI literacy, with only 24 per cent of Canadians having received any AI training, compared to 39 per cent globally.
“That’s a red flag,” he said. “If we don’t close this gap, we’ll face declining productivity, missed investment and a workforce unprepared for tomorrow’s jobs.”
His proposal calls for integrating AI education from elementary through secondary school, beginning with simple, hands-on applications such as children using AI to generate recipes or plan projects. By high school, he said, students should be as fluent in AI as they are in English.
For Medyk, AI is also a tool to level the playing field in immigration. He recalls the case of Fernanda, a client who was twice refused before using his company’s Student Visa Express software, which flagged risks and guided her through the process successfully.
“That’s what technology should do — make sure talent isn’t lost to paperwork,” he said.
Medyk argues Canada is uniquely positioned to lead the world in responsible AI. With pioneers such as Yoshua Bengio, Mila and the Vector Institute, he said the country has the intellectual foundation to shape global standards grounded in fairness, transparency and trust.
He also believes Halifax can serve as a test bed for Canada’s AI future.
“Look at Singapore 50 years ago, or Dubai more recently. They built infrastructure and attracted the world. Halifax can do the same,” he said, pointing to bold policies such as tax incentives or free economic zones.
Despite building his company outside traditional tech hubs, Medyk said Atlantic Canada’s community support has been vital. His mentors range from Chrystia Freeland, whom he admires for her perseverance in politics, to Nova Scotia leaders such as Jill Balser and fellow entrepreneurs like Rashmi Prakash, with whom he exchanged ideas at the G20.
“Halifax may look small on a map, but this is proof our ideas can shape global conversations,” he said. “I hope people back home see this and feel encouraged to join delegations, pitch their ideas and take risks on the international stage.”
Looking ahead, Medyk envisions a Canada where AI fluency is embedded from childhood, producing a workforce capable of world-class innovation and entrepreneurship.
His advice to young Canadians: “Don’t let big waves scare you. Just grab a surfboard, start small and reach out to people. You don’t need a big title to make an impact — just the willingness to begin.”