The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA)’s Chief economist Oumar Dicko is shifting gears and moving into a new leadership role as the national director for government partnerships at Windmill Microlending.
Dicko is well known in the industry for his time with CADA, working in the Ottawa office with Director of Public Affairs, Huw Williams. In an interview with Canadian auto dealer, Dicko described Windmill Microlending as an organization dedicated to providing financial support to improve employment outcomes for immigrants, newcomers and refugees in Canada.
“The group provides micro-loans to help immigrants, newcomers and refugees get the accreditation, qualifications, and skills they need to fully participate and integrate in the Canadian labour market, and contribute to Canada’s economic prosperity,” said Dicko.
As a first-generation immigrant, Dicko said he understood the struggles that immigrant families experience, and is “delighted to take on this role” to help immigrants and newcomers in Canada settle in their new country.
“The work is not only good for them, it’s also good for Canada and economic disparity, because we have everybody in Canada fully participating in the economy and fully contributing to our economic prosperity,” said Dicko. “Immigration is needed in Canada, and we do need immigrants working in (their respective) field where they’re the most productive.”
Asked about his work with Accelerate Auto, which aims to advance career opportunities for Black talent in auto retail, manufacturers, the aftermarket and suppliers while also tackling systemic racism, Dicko said he is still involved at this point in time.
“Over the past two years, with everything that happened around the world, specifically focused now on diversity and inclusion, certainly that has shaped my decision to take on this new role with [Windmill Microlending],” said Dicko.
As for his parting thoughts on working in the auto sector and with CADA, Dicko described the past few years as enjoyable and as coming to love “this vibrant and dynamic industry,” along with the people he connected with and the work he has done.
This includes CADA’s files on the luxury tax and rebate program for zero emission vehicles; Dicko said the association was instrumental in helping the government design the policy around the ZEV file and is continuing its work on the proposed luxury tax front.
“I’m very grateful for all the people that I’ve met and the work that I’ve built, and the work that I’ve done with them. I’m never going to be too far from the automotive industry, as a car lover myself,” said Dicko. “I want to thank everybody that I worked with during my time in the automotive industry.”
