SOCIAL HARMONY, PROSPERITY AND COMPETITIVE

SOCIAL HARMONY, PROSPERITY AND COMPETITIVE
WORLD, APEX CONFERENCE, MAY 31, 2006
Since the beginning of this country, the negotiation and brokerage of
differences has been vital to the economic, social and political survival
and success of Canada. Throughout its past history, Canada’s senior
public service has played a vital role in achieving social harmony
within Canada’s diversity.
In this century the globalization of national economies, technology and
global competition for the best talent will place enormous challenges
for industrialized countries with ageing populations such as Canada.
Aujourd’hui, plus que jamais, la capacité du Canada de maximiser
l’avantage conféré par la diversité grâce aux talents et aux compétences
de ses citoyens et des immigrants venus de tous les coins du monde
déterminera si notre pays réussira ou échouera dans une économie
mondiale hautement concurrentielle et dominée par des géants.
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Our economic survival will depend on it. By 2011, 100% of the growth
in the Canadian labour market will come from immigrants, who will be
mostly visible minorities. By 2017, approximately 20% of the
Canadian population will comprise of visible minorities.
In the last forty years the face of Canada has substantially changed. To
give you some statistics: between 1991 and 2001, 58% of immigrants
came from Asia, 20% from the Middle East, 11% from the Caribbean
and Central and South America, 8 % from Africa and just 3% from the
U.S. Before 1961 just 3% came from Asia and the percentages from
the other countries of origin were even lower. Now however, in 2003,
73 % of immigrants were visible minorities. Another critical
demographic factor of diversity is that the fastest growing part of the
Canadian population is from our First Nations. And contrary to popular
held views, the on reserve populations will grow faster than the urban
aboriginal population as I am sure Wendy will attest to.
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Visible minorities will be over half the population of our unique MTV
experience, the Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver urban centres.
We must not forget and not repeat the mistakes of the past which
regarded immigrants from certain parts of the world as a threat rather
than an incredibly valuable part of the Canadian diversity. Likewise, if
we want to ensure social harmony and prosperity, we must eradicate
the fact that many First Nations live in third world conditions in a
country that was at the top of the global human development index for
over six years. You will hear more about this challenge from Wendy
Grant-John.
Il y a de plus en plus de preuves que depuis les années 90, les plus
récentes cohortes d’immigrants, en grande majorité des minorités
visibles, éprouvent des difficultés à gérer leurs différences et à
s’intégrer dans la société canadienne. Les occasions manquées et les
coûts sociaux sont et seront considérables. Les recherches démontrent
qu’un nombre grandissant de membres des plus récentes cohortes sont
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au chômage ou sous-employés, ou bien vivent dans la pauvreté. De
plus, certaines communautés sont particulièrement susceptibles à
l’isolement et à l’exclusion, et cela produit un nombre important de
jeunes à risque qui ont été recrutés ou qui pourraient l’être dans des
gangs et pour le trafic de stupéfiants dans nos grands centres urbains.
More recently, in the changed world of national security after 9/11,
there is evidence that some of the Muslim community in Canada are
experiencing another type of isolation and exclusion. They perceive
that others see them unjustly as threats to national security. In the
world of real security threats, for those who work so hard to protect us,
the challenge is to neither under react or overreact to the dangers that
face Canadians. Faisal Kutty will be focusing on this in his
presentation.
The research and obvious urban reality has also shown that the recent
cohorts have settled in established ethnic communities to consolidate
ethnicity based social networks that assist them in housing, education
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and employment. Some have suggested that this could enhance social
exclusion and marginalization. However, research has also shown that
this is only the case if concentration coincides with racial or ethnic
penalties in employment, low future prospects, low income and
systemic discrimination. This is a major contributing factor for youth at
risk. For such communities and youth and for many of the recent
cohorts of immigrants there is a pressing need to construct bridging
capital between the ethnicity based social networks and the rest of
Canadian society.
What are the social harmony and prosperity benefits for Canada
becoming a proactive inclusive society?
1. Diversity and Economic Growth
Richard Florida in his book “The Flight of the Creative Class” argues
that the most competitive and innovative areas of the world over the
long run are those areas where diversity is accepted and welcomed. He
argues that what will propel economic growth and prosperity over the
next century are the 3 Ts: Technology, Talent and Tolerance.
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Economists and governments around the world have tended to
emphasize the first two Ts, but Florida argues that the third T will
become as essential. Why? Because the first two are highly mobile and
can “flow into and out” of any country. He argues that the third T,
tolerance is the key to generating, attracting and holding on to the first
two.
Richard Florida soutient une vision élargie de la tolérance selon
laquelle les sociétés mettent tout en œuvre pour favoriser l’ouverture et
l’inclusion. D’après le nouveau modèle de tolérance, il ne s’agit pas
seulement de tolérer les différences, mais de mobiliser les talents
créatifs des diverses populations afin de bâtir aujourd’hui pour demain
une société inclusive.
In his ground breaking economic analysis he argues that the creative
class of citizens comprising those who work with their minds and
develop new ideas, products, processes and governance systems be
they scientists, engineers, high-tech workers, professionals and artists
are most attracted to inclusive and diverse societies. His empirical
analysis and those of other experts that have focused on different
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regions of the U.S., Canada and Europe have revealed that this creative
class is transforming the most powerful economies in the world. In the
U.S. the wages and salaries of this creative class are equal to those in
the manufacturing and service sectors combined and have become the
powerhouse of the economy.
Si nous faisons véritablement la promotion du Canada comme société
prévoyante, et de ce fait inclusive, nous pourrions avoir le pourcentage
le plus élevé de personnes dans le monde appartenant à la classe
créative, ce qui aurait une incidence positive sur l’harmonie sociale et
la prospérité des générations actuelles et futures de Canadiens.
2. Diversity leads to business innovation and increases trade.
Research studies from the Asia-Pacific Foundation have concluded
that:
Maximizing Diaspora and ethnicity based networks have many
economic benefits and can contribute towards:
an increase in trade and business because of personal
knowledge of foreign markets and business;
and
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facilitation of cross cultural understanding that avoids
landmines in doing business in foreign jurisdictions;
However, research and experience has shown that maximizing
diversity must go beyond simply hiring diverse groups but utilizing
their talents and creative skills more effectively and making
diversity sustainable:
The Conference Board of Canada, in recent research and
reports, outlines the business case for maximizing diversity in
the workplace and builds a case on how diversity can lead to
real financial returns and contribute to innovation and
productivity. Senator Oliver, one of the main instigators of
the Conference Board initiatives in this area will no doubt
elaborate on this ; and
Les recherches démontrent aussi que la diversité peut
seulement s’enraciner et ses avantages se réaliser si les cadres
supérieurs dans les secteurs public et privé donnent
l’exemple et mettent en œuvre des systèmes de gouvernance
qui soutiennent la diversité – et cela s’applique, à mon avis,
tant au secteur public qu’au secteur privé.
Senator Oliver has again been a conscience of Canada in
demanding more progress on this front from both the federal
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public service and from the private sector. He will no doubt
present his views on this.
So without further delay, having laid out some of the framework of this
panel’s discussion, I will introduce all of the panellists at once and then
invite Senator Oliver to speak first, followed by Faisal Kutty and last,
but not least Wendy Grant-John.
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