CAMSC Reports $27 Million Procurement Spend by Corporate Members with Aboriginal and Minority Companies in 2006
Improving access to corporate supply chain would boost Canada’s economy, says CAMSC
TORONTO – April 4, 2007 – The Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) is reporting that its corporate members spent over $27 million in procurement dollars with aboriginal and minority companies in 2006. This compares with a collective procurement spend of $16 million by CAMSC members in 2005.
The increase reflects a growing recognition among corporate Canada of the value of working with aboriginal and minority-owned suppliers. Quebec-based JYCO Sealing Technologies has been a beneficiary of the program through its relationship with DaimlerChrysler.
On April 10 and 11, 2007, the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) will host the third annual Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Procurement Fair at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto.The CAMSC Procurement Fair offers a forum where corporations and aboriginal and minority suppliers can share insights, expand their networks, and forge new opportunities. Attracting business executives, government representatives and Aboriginal and minority-owned suppliers of all sizes, the fair will include a cross-border workshop on best practices in supplier diversity.
“Our goal is to link corporate Canada with Aboriginal and minority businesses, which are becoming increasingly crucial to Canada’s economic future,” said Orrin Benn, president of the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council. “By facilitating access to $30 billion in corporate purchasing, we can help to grow Aboriginal and minority-owned business enterprises to strengthen the Canadian economy.”
The Hon. Paul Martin, former prime minister of Canada, will give the keynote address at the conference. His remarks will focus on the need to integrate Aboriginal and Minority businesses in the Canadian economy.
The agenda also includes a series of roundtables on corporate procurement with leading corporations that have recognized the value of working with aboriginal and minority-owned suppliers. The Fair will feature corporate exhibitors, aboriginal and minority suppliers and networking sessions with corporate procurement directors.
Sponsors of the fair include DaimlerChrysler, Xerox, Cisco and RBC Financial Group.
“DaimlerChrysler has actively supported minority-owned suppliers for 23 years and our involvement with CAMSC is another example of how we can help these suppliers leverage opportunities for sustainability and growth,” said Peter Rosenfeld, Executive Vice President – Procurement and Supply, DaimlerChrysler Corporation. “We recognize the value in having a supply base that mirrors our company and customer base.”
CAMSC is calling for federal procurement, certification and reporting policies that will foster growth among Aboriginal and minority small and medium-sized businesses. In a 2006 report entitled Why Aboriginal and Minority Business Integration is Essential to Canada’s Economic Growth, CAMSC recommended a procurement policy that would require companies doing business with the federal government and with crown corporations to report on their purchases from aboriginal and minority suppliers, and the harmonization of federal purchasing rules with U.S. regulations, which would expand market opportunities for Canadian entrepreneurs.
CAMSC recently announced the addition of Acklands Grainger, Comstock, Enterprise Rent a Car, Johnson & Johnson Inc., KSR International, Pfizer, State Farm Insurance, TD Canada Trust and Wal-Mart Canada Inc. to CAMSC’s already impressive list of national corporate members. These nine companies join a number of premier Canadian businesses that, through CAMSC, see the value in engaging Aboriginal and visible minority enterprises.
About CAMSC
CAMSC aims to boost economic development efforts and employment of Aboriginal and minorities in Canada through business development and employment. CAMSC delivers programs to promote and facilitate procurement opportunities between major corporations in Canada and suppliers of all sizes owned and operated by Canadian Aboriginals and minorities.
For more information, please visit www.camsc.ca.
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Media contacts:
Catharine Heddle
Environics Communications for CAMSC
416-969-2729
cheddle@environicspr.com
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