On average, women still earn less than men regardless of their occupation, age or education. Today, women earn 72.5 cents for every dollar a man earns. For women of colour, Aboriginal women, and women with a disability, the wage gap is even greater.

Women’s groups and trade unions have pushed for years for the government to improve the federal pay equity system. In the year 2000, the Canadian Women’s March Committee, led by twenty-three pan-Canadian women’s organizations demanded that the federal government adopt proactive pay equity legislation as part of a comprehensive strategy to end poverty and violence against women.

In 2001, after finally recognizing the need to take action, the federal government appointed the Task Force on Pay Equity under the direction of the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Labour. The Task Force reviewed the current pay equity framework and made recommendations to improve the system. The Task Force consulted stakeholders including employees, employers, trade unions, researchers and pay equity experts. Extensive consultations took place across the country to collect information about what pay equity initiatives are needed and to identify new approaches.

Despite widespread support for the implementation of the recommendations made by the Task Force, the government has taken no action to implement them.

To view the report Pay Equity: A New Approach to a Fundamental Right by the Pay Equity Task Force click here:
A New Approach [1]

To view the two reports submiitted by the Standing Committee on the Status of Women urging the government to implement the recommendations made by the Task Force click here:
The Standing Committee on the Status of Women’s Fourth Report on Pay Equity [2]
The Standing Committee on the Status of Women’s Sixth Report on Pay Equity [3]

To view the government’s response to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women’s 4th report on pay equity, click here:
Government Response [4]

To view a comprehensive information sheet on Pay Equity, created by the Canadian Labour Congress, click here:
Pay Equity Info Sheet [5]

To view a fact sheet on Pay Equity and information about the Pay Equity Network Campaign, created by the National Association of Women and the Law, click here:
Fact Sheet on Pay Equity [6]