"The diversity of our country and our workforce is fundamental to our definition of Canada, and to our future prosperity as a nation," said Nixon, president and chief executive officer of RBC Financial Group.
Speaking at a lunch held by the Women's Canadian Club of Montreal, Nixon told his audience that as one of the most diverse nations on earth, Canada had more to gain from working towards diversity than virtually any other country.
"Unlocking the power of diversity will enable Canada to become more competitive and dynamic," he stated. "In a nation as small as Canada, we simply cannot afford to overlook talented and smart people because of gender,
ethnic origin or other differences. From a business perspective, diversity is one of our greatest competitive advantages in growing our intellectual capital
and ensuring our ability to compete."
Nixon said that immigration has and continues to provide Canada with a unique opportunity to revitalize its society with new ideas and new energy.
"As I have travelled across our country, I've been impressed by the number of entrepreneurial companies that have been started by first-generation Canadians," he said. "They have brought a wealth of creativity and ideas to
our country, and their vitality is helping to create jobs and drive economic growth."
However, he acknowledged that our ability to attract and utilize the talents of newcomers does not always happen spontaneously.
"It requires a concerted effort by every sector of society, including a leadership role by the business community," Nixon said. "Clearly, we need to do more to identify and remove impediments to full participation in the economic life of this country. And not just for new Canadians. It needs to be
done for all those who have felt the frustration of 'sticky floors' that initially limit their opportunities for advancement, or the 'glass ceilings' that block their access to the senior levels of an organization."
Nixon, who chairs his organization's Diversity Leadership Council, said diversity is a responsibility that he and RBC take seriously.
"Not just because it's the right thing to do. But because it's good for business," he said. "We believe that a diverse workforce will help us develop better products and services for an increasingly multi-ethnic, multi-lingual customer base. And we believe that this workforce will be able to devise more
creative, effective solutions to the challenges that will undoubtedly be presented by the rapidly changing competitive environment of tomorrow."
Nixon said the onus is on business leaders to push forward to create an inclusive society where differences are respected and valued for the benefit of all.
"As we move in that direction, I believe we'll discover that unlocking the power of diversity will become a competitive advantage for Canada, and a source of national pride for Canadians," he concluded.
For a copy of Mr. Nixon's speech "Unlocking the Power of Diversity," please visit http://www.rbc.com/newsroom/20041018nixon.html.