Madam Chair, I can't speculate on why the federal pay equity system has taken 22 years longer than it did in Quebec to see the light of day. It's a legislative measure and it was probably dependent on the will of the legislators over time.
The benefits for women include, as the report mentions, the fact that pay for disadvantaged groups will likely increase by approximately $620 million per year as of 2023-24, based on our estimates. This money will very likely end up in the pockets of women because they are often in these disadvantaged groups. This means that they are not being paid as much as men for work of equal value.
The regulations tabled by the government for the implementation of the act indicate that additional pay of approximately $2 billion at net present value will be paid in the private sector over a period of 10 years.