Canada is getting a failing grade in its battle against racism, says the head of the country's race relations foundation.

``When a country fails to take full advantage of cultural diversity in its people, racism and intolerance become the norm,'' Lincoln Alexander, chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, said at the launch of the group's three-day conference in Vancouver Friday.

Alexander, former lieutenant-governor of Ontario, said visible minorities will make up nearly 15 per cent of the whole of Canada in five years, and in Toronto, they are quickly approaching the majority population.

Racism is not a recent phenomenon in Canada, he said.

``I experienced racism as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. I experienced racism while looking for work after graduating from university. I experienced racism as a law student at Osgoode Hall,'' he said.

Although Canada is among the best places in the world to live, Alexander said it is foolhardy to suggest racism is declining in this country.

Citing a recent study commissioned by the foundation that found racism thrives in Canada's labour market, he said visible minorities and aboriginal people are still being denied equal access to job and promotion opportunities.'