Evidence shows that there is an increasing number of knowledge and management occupations in a broad range of sectors, requiring greater numbers of well-educated and skilled workers. Despite this compelling need for skilled workers, the reports note that immigrants often do not fare well in the Canadian economy. One of the main barriers faced by skilled immigrants is that their credentials are not recognised by employers in Canada. While this is due partly to the lack of a national body which certifies immigrant qualifications, another reason that immigrants may face barriers is racism, and the possession of a certificate may do very little to challenge this. In this article, the author explores the promises and shortfalls of Canada's Innovation strategy for well-educated migrants to Canada, who now make up just over 75 percent of immigrants to Canada. The author suggests that the policies on work and learning must deal with employer racism and localism. Only then can Canada build a society in which not only knowledge, but also fundamentally, the diversity of the knowledge held by those who live there matter.