Evidence of meeting #9 for Pay Equity in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ontario.
A video is available from Parliament.
9 p.m.
NDP
9 p.m.
Former Member, Pay Equity Task Force and, Professor, School of Industrial Relations, University of Montreal, As an Individual
In fact, in Quebec the act was passed in 1996, but it went into effect for employers in 1997. The reason for that was to allow the pay equity commission to be installed, to hire people, and to develop expertise.
It took almost one year for the pay equity commission to be able to work. To pass the act we as a task force had one year to prepare the blueprint for the government and then there were some negotiations with the social partners. I would say it took a year and a half before the act was passed, but we went almost from scratch. Here, however, you already have the pay equity task force's recommendations that I think many people agree on. You have already some leads in this work.
9:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anita Vandenbeld
Are there any further questions? No.
Do any of the witnesses want to have some final words?
First, we'll have Mr. Durber and then Madam Chicha.
9:05 p.m.
Consultant, Opus Mundi Canada, As an Individual
I would just quickly like to underscore the difference between pay equity in an organization and the wage gap. Legislation should not hold an employer responsible for closing the more general wage gap. I think that would be quite unfair.
In fact, I remember when I was at the human rights commission, the bankers association was very adamant about that. All they're responsible for is the treatment of their employees.
I just wanted to say that quickly.
9:05 p.m.
Former Member, Pay Equity Task Force and, Professor, School of Industrial Relations, University of Montreal, As an Individual
In fact, I was going to say the same as Paul.
I noticed by reading all the hearings and the experts, etc., that there is some confusion. As it was mentioned today, the wage gap is due to many different causes, which are discriminatory but it's not wage discrimination. Each part of this wage gap, whether education or experience or family and work conciliation, may be closed by different types of policies.
However, pay equity is a different policy that deals only with the wage discrimination and not the wage gap. Employers can be afraid of thinking that the wage gap, which is 20%, will have to be compensated by them, but it's not true. The adjustments are around 5% or 6%, depending on the jobs. I think it is extremely important to be very clear about this.
When the Pay Equity Act was passed in Quebec, this act was initiated by a different party from the one that was the government at the time, which was the Liberal Party. The premier was away for a mission and asked that the passing of the act wait for one day until he came back. At the beginning, he wasn't in favour of this Pay Equity Act that was presented by a different party. However, he wanted to manifest his support to pay equity, and the act was passed with the unanimity of all the parties in the National Assembly of Quebec.
I wish that it would be the same at the federal level, if I can wish for something like that.
Thank you very much.
9:05 p.m.
Liberal
9:05 p.m.
Past-President, Business and Professional Women's Clubs of Ontario
I would just like to disagree with my esteemed witnesses by saying that in 25 years in Ontario of having the Pay Equity Act, we have not closed the gender wage gap. I think without looking at both problems simultaneously, by introducing pay equity without introducing measures to close the gender wage gap, you will simply be going in circles and having to continually do pay equity. It will never solve itself.
I think there's a golden opportunity here to start with some knowledge from the ground up and build in some other features that will look at closing the gender wage gap and moving our country forward.
Thank you.
9:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anita Vandenbeld
Thank you very, very much.
I know it's been a very long evening. I want to thank our witnesses for being here and for providing so much information in a relatively short time. I thank the committee members also for staying later than we had anticipated.
Our next meeting will be on Monday at 5:30.
We will adjourn. Thank you so much.
