Question Period Note: PAY EQUITY

What will the Government of Canada, as one of Canada's largest employers, do to ensure men and women receive equal pay for work of equal value?

• Canadians expect women to be full participants in the economic, social and democratic life of our country.
• The Government of Canada is moving forward with a multi-faceted strategy on gender equality and addressing the gender wage gap, strengthening the right to equal pay for work of equal value.
• In December 2018, Parliament passed the Pay Equity Act to address the systemic undervaluing of work performed by women.
• The Treasury Board Secretariat is supporting Employment and Social Development Canada to develop the regulations required to implement this legislation in federally regulated industries, including the federal public service.

The Pay Equity Act, received royal assent on December 13, 2018.
The Act also amends the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act so as to incorporate proactive pay equity requirements, and repeals the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act, which is not currently in force.
The Pay Equity Act and the related amendments will be brought into force by Order in Council at a later date.
The legislation will cover about 1.3 million individuals employed in federally-regulated workplaces, including the federal public service.
Until the new legislation comes into force, the current system for public service pay equity complaints under the Canadian Human Rights Act continues to apply.
The Government is managing its response to existing pay equity complaints filed under the Canadian Human Rights Act, to the extent possible, in a way that is aligned with its agenda for pay equity reform. This includes taking measures to expedite pay equity litigation, reach negotiated settlements whenever warranted, and use informal dispute resolution.

• The Pay Equity Act, received royal assent on December 13, 2018, and will be brought into force by Order in Council at a later date.
• The Act will cover about 1.3 million individuals employed in federally-regulated workplaces, including the federal public service.