Mr. Speaker, women across this country have been waiting 14 years for government to recognize pay equity.
Federal employees have been waiting far too long. It is unacceptable.
Let me tell the House about one of these employees. For 25 years Marie Ann Wry from Sackville in my riding was a loyal federal employee working at the Dorchester Penitentiary. She strongly believed in pay equity.
In 1992, concerned about the Conservative stalling tactics to implement pay equity, she wrote to the leader of the opposition, now our Prime Minister. The leader of the opposition replied that a Liberal government would try to promote greater equality in the public service and Canadian society in general.
That letter was really important to Ms. Wry. She held on to this letter until her death last January. Until her last day she was hoping the Liberals would honour pay equity. It was in vain.
How many more women will have to die before this is settled?