February 16, 1996 -- The Canadian Ethnocultural Council (CEC), which speaks on behalf of national ethnocultural organizations, has released its Discussion Paper, Ethnocultural Diversity: A Source of Competitive Advantage.

The Paper was prepared by the CEC to raise awareness of the economic benefits Canada derives from its ethnocultural diversity. On releasing the paper, Dr. Dmytro Cipywnyk, president of the CEC said, "Canada exists in a highly competitive global economy. In this challenging environment, there is a new and more urgent dimension to Canada's multicultural reality. More than just being a way to preserve exotic foods and colourful dances, multiculturalism becomes a tool which this country can use to develop a decisive competitive advantage in the global marketplace."

Dr. Cipywnyk also said "few of the world's countries display the ethnic diversity that is characteristic of Canada. Even fewer have made an official commitment to respect that diversity through a policy on multiculturalism. Not only do Canada's citizens originate from virtually all the world's nations, but they retain their links to other countries through a multicultural policy that values cultural and linguistic differences. Thus, Canada's people are in a strong position to serve as natural bridges to their countries of origin."

The Discussion Paper is part of ongoing CEC initiatives to stimulate dialogue that will enhance business awareness of the economic potential inherent in diversity; strengthen links between businesses and the ethnocultural communities; and develop information that business people could use to make the best competitive use of diversity.

It is the product of extensive consultation with business people, ethnocultural communities and officials across Canada. In reviewing the economic dimensions of diversity, it makes five concrete proposals that could help Canadian businesses make full use of Canada's ethnocultural diversity:

1. the creation of an electronic inventory of Canada's ethnocultural resources to link those with specific language and cultural skills to those who can make use of them in business;

2. a set of diagnostic and planning tools to guide business people through the process of identifying and taking advantage of opportunities to deploy ethnocultural resources;

3. more local events - business breakfasts, meetings, and workshops - to bring together business people and ethnocultural communities for mutual advantage;

4. an explicit campaign to raise awareness of the opportunities inherent in diversity;

5. the development of a presentation kit that might be made available to business and community leaders willing to champion the cause of diversity in business.

The Paper is being featured at the conference being held jointly by the CEC, the Conference Board of Canada, and the Department of Canadian Heritage, on February 15 and 16 at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The purpose of the conference is to stimulate ideas on how business can use diversity to improve their productivity and competitiveness in Canada and abroad.