[jj2424]

City hall too white and male, says Nenshi


City hall’s leadership is too white and male for an organization that aims to be a diverse employer, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said Wednesday.

Speaking at a Calgary Economic Development lecture series on diversity, the city’s first visible minority mayor said city officials have an inclusion plan and diverse workforce, but many women and minorities may be hitting a ceiling.

“We are lousy at promoting a diverse workforce,” Nenshi said.

“When you look at our management levels within the city, (among) my top six managers there are no women now — the one woman retired — there are no people of a visible minority,” he said in his speech.

The lone female general manager (a Caucasian) retired early last year, replaced by a white man from the director level. Among the 34 existing directors, Nenshi told the group he could only think of one minority and a few women.

“We’ve got to do a better job, and we have to look internally at our own organization to determine what are the barriers that are in place toward getting people promoted into these jobs,” he said.

In an interview, Nenshi conceded managers may simply be hiring the best people. He’s asked officials to consider whether there are systemic problems or “inadvertent biases in our promotion policies.”

Nenshi and council aren’t directly responsible for hiring city GMs and directors, but will appoint a new top executive within weeks because city manager Owen Tobert retires Jan. 30.

Two GMs have applied to head Calgary’s bureaucracy, but councillors are also interviewing candidates from outside city hall. The mayor also confirmed the shortlist is ethnically diverse and isn’t male-only.

In his diversity speech, Nenshi also repeated past criticisms of companies who shun immigrants without “Canadian experience,” and a developer group’s commentary article that suggested gay couples and people with tattoos may not fit in suburbia.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calga ... story.html

EDIT
This article in the link has been changed from the original story (posted above). Left wing media decided the words were too damning for the purple poobah.

[Thanos]

Nenshi's an asshole.

[martin14]

jj2424 jj2424:

managers may simply be hiring the best people.

Oh my God, what the fuck is the city doing, trying to hire the best people.

The shame, the horror..





Better hope this chump doesn't get re-elected, you don't want to see what a shitpile
the city will turn into if the diversity train comes rolling through town.

[QBall]

Wow the guy didn't just shoot himself in the foot, he disintegrated it. Doesn't he have handlers who read his speeches ahead of time?

[jj2424]

It's Calgary, what do you expect? Calgary mayors have a shelf life of at least three terms.

He thinks he's the grand pooba and no one can challenge him .

You won't recognize Calgary when he's finished with it.

....

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[DrCaleb]

What do you care? You live in Arizona.

[jj2424]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

What do you care? You live in Arizona.

My money is still in Alberta.

[Brenda]

jj2424 jj2424:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

What do you care? You live in Arizona.

My money is still in Alberta.

Maybe you should rethink that then...

[QBall]

And now he's being sued for $6 million for defamation. Not a good week.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybre ... 06393.html

[fifeboy]

Brenda Brenda:

jj2424 jj2424:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

What do you care? You live in Arizona.

My money is still in Alberta.

Maybe you should rethink that then...

He should put his money where his mouth is.

[ShepherdsDog]

naw, they need his mouth for their agricultural sector.

[Proculation]

I guess that means he's barred for life in Quebec with the PQ. Even if he speaks French.

[CanadianJeff]

There's always an unspoken assumption made with stories like these that needs to stop:

"Well if they are hiring white folks they are just hiring the best people for the job!"

Positive racism is a thing as well and it's an important thing for a job interviewer to realize. I've done hiring and often noticed people tend to hire those most similar to themselves over other applicants. This even often occurs when one applicant may be more qualified.

That being said to accuse Nenshi of racism is absurd. He's saying city hall should be more diverse not that laws should be passed for such. It's downright ridiculous.

A more diverse workplace does have it's business edges as well in generally being more flexible and adaptable at brainstorming and accommodating the needs of it's customers. Nenshi isn't wrong to wish that same flexibility in his workplace.

[martin14]

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

Positive racism

It really sucks that some people think this is a good idea.

[saturn_656]

martin14 martin14:

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

Positive racism

It really sucks that some people think this is a good idea.

The thing is most folks are smart enough to tip toe around the racism and simply say that they are "seeking diversity", not outright say "We gots too many Whites!"

Nenshi obviously isn't that smart.

Remember the "whites need not apply" CBC job ad a while ago? Same sort of slip up. Someone forgot to use the "proper terminology" and bared their intentions a little more than they wanted.