Fondé en 1983 --Unis pour la diversité et l'égalité raciale

THE LACK OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY ON THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF PME MTL: A MAJOR OVERSIGHT, AGAIN



Montreal, October 26, 2015 — The lack of racial and ethnic diversity among members of the Boards of Directors of the different PME MTL offices, which were unveiled today, is a more regrettable oversight on the part of the authorities that set up these agencies.

PME MLT is a network of 6 business support organizations through the City of Montreal. Each organization has a board of directors composed of elected city councillors, Members of the Quebec National Assembly and other representatives of civil society (business, labor and education).

The fact that these Boards of Directors, especially for the PME MTL offices in the West Island, Center-West, East-Island and Center-City areas (http://pmemtl.com/en/about-us), are almost entirely lily-white, sends a negative message about inclusion and diversity, in an age when diversity is often lauded as an added value for business.

Furthermore, many small businesses in different boroughs of Montreal are set up and run by immigrants as well as native-born Montrealers from different racialized groups such as the Arab, Asia-Pacific, Black, Latin-American and South Asian communities.

“We cannot afford to stress the importance of racial integration and cultural diversity in policing, in community development or in the celebration of Montreal's artistic vitality while leaving out entirely members of racialized and ethnic minorities from the most important sector of municipal life, economic development,” said CRARR's Executive Director Fo Niemi.

“Diversity should not continue to be an afterthought in a city that aspires to be an international cosmopolitan city and trading marketplace”, he said.