BMO Named One of Canada's Best Employers for New Canadians for Third Consecutive Year

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Partnership with ACCES Employment to roll out a national Speed Mentoring program: Example of important initiatives that enhance employment and career opportunities for immigrants.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 28, 2011) - BMO Financial Group has been named one of Canada's Best Employers for New Canadians by Mediacorp Inc.
"This award is a reflection of BMO's longstanding commitment to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in our workforce, and to creating a work environment in which all employees can truly reach their full career potential," said Sonya Kunkel, Director, Diversity and Inclusion, BMO Financial Group.
"Skilled newcomers bring vast knowledge, experience, creativity, and innovation to the Canadian workforce and it is incumbent upon every employer to do everything they can to open their doors to this talented pool of skilled professionals," she added.
Judges took particular note of the seminal work BMO has undertaken with ACCES Employment to introduce a nationwide Speed Mentoring program. The program gives newcomers opportunities to network with established professionals in their fields of expertise. BMO is the exclusive industry sponsor.
Already, more than 1,900 immigrants have benefitted from contacts established through Speed Mentoring sessions. Overall, ACCES has an 80 per cent success rate in helping new Canadians enter the workforce.
"Our first year of Speed Mentoring in partnership with BMO Financial Group has been extremely successful," said Allison Pond, Executive Director, ACCES Employment. "Together, we are helping new Canadians meet professionals and expand their networks. These connections are vital in helping newcomers successfully integrate into their fields. The tremendous response from both mentors and mentees provides us with the opportunity to share Speed Mentoring, with organizations doing similar work across the country, so that more new Canadians can benefit from Speed Mentoring and accelerate their success."
"We do this not just because it is the right thing to do for the bank and for our customers, but because it is also the right thing to do for our communities," said Ms Kunkel.
NOTE: UPCOMING SPEED MENTORING EVENT
BMO is holding its next Speed Mentoring event at the bank's new Customer Contact Centre in Mississauga, Ontario on April 15, 2011, between 2:00-4:00 pm. The event will pair mentees interested in call centre careers with BMO mentors working at the bank's new contact centre. Media are welcome to attend:

	Meadowvale CCC
	2465 Argentia Road,
	Mississauga, L5N 0B4

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Canada could lead developed world in growth: RBC head

Image via WikipediaMONTREAL — Canada could enjoy a "breakaway decade" of economic growth if businesses invest more to improve productivity, the head of the Royal Bank of Canada said Monday. Gordon Nixon told a Canadian Club audience in Montreal that Canada has the potential to significantly outperform the developed world in terms of economic growth and social leadership.
"Our economy has been resilient, the housing market is up, past federal surpluses have provided flexibility, the banking system is stable and corporate tax rates are low," he said.
But Nixon said the country's promise can only be realized by tackling several key shortcomings.
They include reducing provincial and federal deficits, increasing immigration and tackling Canada's Achilles heel of low productivity.
In particular, he challenged businesses to spend more on innovation, noting that over the last 30 years the productivity gap between Canada and the United States has more than tripled.
"Innovation-fuelled productivity is the lever we can pull to increase the economic pie we all share and, in doing so, improve our standard of living and gain competitive clout in the global marketplace."
Governments have helped by cutting regulatory and tax burdens, but Nixon says they must now work aggressively to balance their budgets.
Meanwhile, Canada should gain a competitive advantage as other countries are forced to boost taxes and cut spending.
"Canada today is an attractive place to live, work and build successful businesses. And, with continued fiscal responsibility, we should be able to avoid the current plight of many countries that will be forced to undergo painful restructurings to address their systemic failures," he said.
"It's our turn as business leaders to say thanks to the government for the tax reform and now we are going to use it to invest and (make) innovation part of our agenda."
Meanwhile, he said Canadian governments at both the federal and provincial levels must continue to put their financial houses in order after the recent recession.
"We cannot let the advantage gained through 15 years of fiscal responsibility slip away," he said.
"Notwithstanding the political challenges of fiscal restraint, it is essential that the provinces and the federal governments aggressively work their way back to fiscal balance."

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