Diversity Dividend

The Diversity Dividend: Canada’s Global Advantage

Over the past year, the Pluralism Project has explored the relationship between workplace diversity and business performance in Canada. The findings show a positive correlation between workplace diversity, revenue and productivity in Canada with important implications for both public policy and public discourse around issues of diversity, immigration, and the strength of the Canadian economy. Drawing on the report’s findings and recommendations as well as their expertise in their different sectors, our distinguished panelists will discuss how and why diversity can have a positive economic impact, while identifying areas for action and debating the possible implications for Canada’s future.

Led by Dr. Bessma Momani, Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo and Senior Fellow at CIGI, and Jill Stirk, a Trudeau Foundation mentor and Associate at Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Dialogue, the project covered more than 6,000 businesses and employers, representing 14 sectors from coast to coast. The report and its recommendations are based on a quantitative analysis of the Statistics Canada Workplace and Employee Survey (WES), as well as consultations with the business community, academia, NGOs, and private and public stakeholders.

About the Pluralism Project

The Pluralism Project is funded by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation within its Public Interaction Program under the theme of Pluralism, Diversity, and the Future of Citizenship. This event would not be possible without the support of the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA), the International Migration Research Centre (IMRC), the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), RBC Royal Bank, the Global Centre for Pluralism (GCP), the Immigrant Employment Council of B.C. (IEC-BC), the Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain, the Rotman School of Management, and the Manning Centre.

Speakers

Dr. Bessma Momani

Pluralism Project co-author and full professor with the Department of Political Science and Balsillie School of International Affairs at the University of Waterloo and senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation

Jillian Stirk

Pluralism Project co-author and former Ambassador to Norway and assistant deputy minister in the federal public service.

Paul Davidson

President & CEO, Universities Canada

Zabeen Hirji

Chief Human Resources Officer, Royal Bank of Canada

Kamal Al-Solaylee

Associate Professor, Ryerson University School of Journalism

Omar Sachedina

Ottawa News Bureau Correspondent, CTV National News

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