Status of Women Committee on Feb. 25th, 2021

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Ultimately, if you're talking about any sort of retroactive pay or adjustment, it's when they have those plans in place, but there's no responsibility upon the government for any kind of retroactive pay because of the delays of the regulations coming into force.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

The government's responsibility as the commissioner—

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

That's the end of your time. I'm sorry.

Now we're going to go to Ms. Sahota for five minutes.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Minister, I'm just going to build on what my colleague, Ms. Mathyssen, was talking about.

I asked you this before. With the six years that this law's been taking, every woman has lost about $36,000 to date. Not only are they losing that amount, but there is also pension loss. What do you have to say about that?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

With all due respect, it's unfortunate that the previous government didn't implement this.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

This government's not moving on this.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

We are moving on it.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

In the past three years, not much has happened.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

I'll repeat myself. We have moved forward on this for the past three years. We've established a special committee that built on the Bilson report. We did consultations through the “What We Heard Report”. We published that. We then moved forward with legislation in 2018.

We're in the midst of a pandemic and we're moving forward on proactive pay equity legislation because we believe in it and because we know it's going to be transformational for women. I'm wishing and hoping that the Conservatives will support us as we move forward.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Minister, you've been elected since 2015. That's six years.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

I've explained to you what we've done. We've built on the Bilson report. We had a special committee. Madam Chair was on that committee. MP Sidhu was on that committee. All parties were represented. They had the opportunity to provide a report. They did provide that report. This is important and it is critical that we get it right.

We needed that information. We needed that consultation period. We have been moving forward on this legislation since we took office. We are happy that we are now going to see full implementation, which is going to mean transformational change for women across this country.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Minister, don't you think women need more financial security during the pandemic?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Absolutely, so look at the things that we have implemented as a result. Pay transparency: that's going to shorten the wage gap. What does that mean? It means for women again another layer: paid fairly for the work they're doing. On skills training and investments in skills training, I've sat around tables that are all filled with women, and what are they all doing? They got to fulfill a dream of being in a profession, a trade—

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Minister, I'm going to quote what the PBO told me when he appeared before the committee. He said:

It was the government's own legislation, so they knew this was coming. I'm convinced they could have drafted and implemented regulations more quickly and had an earlier coming into force.

As to why this wasn't done, he said, “I don't know.” The PBO is saying that he doesn't know why the government is not moving. You haven't even provided the information he requested. You've answered none of the questions I asked today.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

MP Sahota, I'm sorry you feel that way. I think I'm answering the questions you're asking very clearly. We have moved forward. You have a difference of opinion—

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

I have a question—

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

We don't want to rush it. We want to make sure we get it right. We can't fail women this way.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Minister, you're failing women anyway, by not moving fast enough. I think I'm not the only one of the opinion that you're moving too slowly and you're failing women. Ms. Mathyssen has said that, and some of my other colleagues believe the same.

If you're telling me that you're answering my questions, then I'm going to repeat the same question for a third time. Minister, can you tell me how much this piece of legislation will cost? I know what numbers you've already provided. I just need to know the ballpark.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

With respect to women, let me say this. It's not only this piece of legislation and the cost. You talk about the cost. What is the cost of inaction? What is the cost of doing nothing? Our children and our grandchildren will have to bear that, and the economy loses out. This is why our government has moved forward on so many measures: pay transparency, skills training, Bill C-65, an Employment Equity Act review, child care—

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Can I get an answer, please? Can I get an answer to my question?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

I will just say that I respect your opinion and appreciate your opinion, but I have to strongly disagree with what you are alleging in some of the things that you have said, and I am delighted that we are moving forward.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

I've taken some of these quotes from the PBO.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

That's the end of your time. I'm sorry.

We will go now to Ms. Dhillon for five minutes.

[Anju Dhillon, Liberal, Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC]

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Minister Tassi. It's very nice to see you here.

We're hearing a lot about how this legislation should be rushed through. After waiting years and decades, do you not believe that if we're going to do it, we should do it right, and not in a way that will make us go backwards? If there are errors, they are going to cause even more delays and more disadvantages for women in the long run. Can you please speak to this?

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

MP Dhillon, I agree a hundred per cent. We have an opportunity before us that is significant. It is incumbent upon us to get this absolutely right, which is why the engagement, the support of the pay equity commissioner, the consultations...and we will get this right. I have full confidence that this legislation is going to create change, that women are going to benefit for generations to come—our daughters, our granddaughters—and it's extremely important that we seize this opportunity.

We are the government that did move forward with this because we recognized the importance, and I actually believe that employers are with us. They now have the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to gender equality and we are going to work together to implement this transformational legislation, and we can all feel very proud about that.